Add More Life to the Landscape

31 Aug, 2007 By: Jamie J. Gooch LDB Solutions

Menageries – collections of exotic animals – have been part of estate landscapes since medieval times. Aristocrats would import great cats, colorful fowl and strange fish as curiosities, icons of wealth and additions to a living landscape. With the advent of zoos in the 1800s, large private menageries went out of style. However, the idea of adding color, movement and interest to an estate landscape is a classic concept that can still be accomplished with wildlife. Lions, tigers and bears may not be practical landscape additions, but koi, game birds, peafowl, ornamental chickens, and waterfowl are another story.

With a little understanding of their habitat a landscape designer can create an environment that a peacock like this one can thrive in for many generations of landscape beauty.

“Incorporating wildlife is a great way for clients to interact with their landscape,” says Cynthia Kinman, co-owner of Kinman Associates, a landscape design-build firm in Dublin, OH. “If we get away from traditional subdivisions, to 1.5 - to 5-acre lots, we generally see clients who bought that land because they love nature. Wildlife is another way for designers to create a picturesque landscape for our clients. What greater way to enhance a beautiful landscape than to sit on a balcony and watch a line of Bobwhite quail cross a garden path?”

Kinman, who has ornamental chickens and peacocks roaming her own back yard, says many animals can be added to a landscape without much extra maintenance. Certain animals are accustomed to fending for themselves when given free range. They’ll actually eat insects in addition to being fed.

“If you’re used to filling a bird feeder, that’s the extent of upkeep for peacocks,” Kinman says. “Wildlife isn’t so hard to have if you design a self-sustaining habitat. You place a birdfeeder where you want to see the animals and they hang around it. As long as there is food and water, they don’t wander far.”

Dogs are effective at deterring predators, such as foxes and coyotes, from attacking the ornamental wildlife. If trained properly, dogs will protect the desirable birds, and deter those not welcome on the estate.

However, designers do need to do some homework on animal behaviors and create a habitat in the landscape where animals can thrive. Some things to consider:

Compliance with zoning regulations
Ensuring animal species are hardy enough to live in the area of the country you’d like to place them
Creating safe areas, such as islands in ponds for waterfowl, tall trees for peacocks, tall grass for game birds and coops for chickens
Being aware of predators, especially when adding very young animals to the landscape
How many animals the acreage of the land and/or pond can support
Ensuring the client is aware of the maintenance involved and can perform it, or afford to have it maintained
Containing the animals in the landscape for a week or two before letting them roam, in order to train them that it is their home
Learning the breeding seasons and habits of the animals you wish to use in a landscape
Compatibility with dogs and cats. Dogs can be compatible with different types of birds, and can even scare away predators, such as foxes and coyotes; cats, however are not.

Kinman did her research in libraries and online. She also found animal suppliers to be very helpful resources of information. Supplier prices can be quite reasonable.

Most ornamental birds don’t cost much. Kinman says chicken hatchlings can be purchased for less than $2 a piece, and mature peacocks for about $60. Swans can cost as much as $600 for adults. Koi run the gamut with some costing $5, to show-quality koi costing thousands of dollars. The record price paid for a championship breeding koi is $850,000.

Having only roosters has advantages. They are more ornamental and animated, and without females around they run in a pack as a flock instead of fighting amongst themselves over who will lord over the hens in the coop.

“Designers should be aware that there are customers out there who would be interested in wildlife,” Kinman says. “It’s not for everyone, but it is a niche like butterfly or sensory gardens. It’s not just something Martha Stewart does. I think many people with estate properties will be interested.”

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