02/04/2026
I was honored to ask to be on the committee to create the most recent Living in the Dunes guide.
Save the Dunes releases free LANDSCAPING GUIDE FOR BIRD CONSERVATION
Save the Dunes is proud to announce the release of “Living in the Dunes: A Homeowner’s Landscaping Guide for Bird Conservation in Indiana’s Coastal Communities,” the third installment in the organization’s popular Living in the Dunes native landscaping guide series.
“Landscaping Guide for Bird Conservation” focuses on birds and Northwest Indiana’s important role in supporting them. Located along the Mississippi Flyway, the region serves as a major corridor for migratory birds and provides habitat for hundreds of resident species. While protected lands such as Indiana Dunes National Park and regional nature preserves are essential, much of the landscape between them has been developed into spaces which offer birds little food, shelter, or safety.
“Birds don’t recognize property lines, and conservation can’t stop at park boundaries,” said Save the Dunes Project Director Katie Hobgood, who led the creation of this guide. “Our protected lands form the foundation but this guide shows how home gardens complete the mosaic birds depend on to move safely across our fragmented region.”
“Landscaping Guide for Bird Conservation” helps homeowners understand how native plants and intentional garden design can provide birds with the essential habitat elements they need to survive.
Developed with guidance from an expert advisory committee and designed by Hitchcock Design Group (now RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture), the guide features bird profiles, native plant recommendations, garden layout templates, and practical tips for creating bird-friendly landscapes at home.
Printed copies of the guide will be distributed to community destinations throughout Northwest Indiana and shared at Save the Dunes programs and events.
A digital copy is available athttps://savedunes.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Living-in-the-Dunes-Vol-3_Gardening-for-Birds.pdf
This project was funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program, with matching support provided by BP.
Established in 1952, Save the Dunes protects and advocates for the Indiana Dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding natural areas for the health and vitality of the environment and for the people who live, work, and recreate in Northwest Indiana. Save the Dunes enhances and protects the incredible biodiversity of the Dunes through its work in advocacy, conservation, and community engagement.
To learn more about the Save the Dunes, go to https://savedunes.org
