A new Backyard Birding series kicks off this week as organizers spotlight gardening practices with the goal of attracting and supporting a greater diversity of bird species to local outdoor spaces.

“Transforming Yards into Bird-Friendly Habitats” features presenters Christie Lassen and Ron Sikes and is set for 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, in the Rainshadow Hall at Dungeness River Nature Center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

This series event, the first of a 10-part series, will introduce the new Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society initiative, the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project. This project joins forces with other conservation organizations participating in the Garden for Wildlife program led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

Photo courtesy of Christie Lassen / Christie Lassen

Lassen, co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, will walk through the Garden for Wildlife checklist of requirements for NWF habitat certification. Participant will be given a chance to evaluate how much (or little) they need to do to transform their yards (or terraces) into habitats.

Following an overview of the checklist, Sikes — of the “Plants for Birds” program, Admiralty Audubon Society, Port Townsend — will focus on one essential component of a bird-friendly habitat: native plants.

Photo courtesy of Ron Sikes / Ron Sikes will talk about using native plants to create bird-friendly habitats. at the Backyard Birding series event on Sept. 7.

He will explain the importance of native plants, provide a suggested list of plants available locally, and describe a wide variety of songbirds drawn to them.

Admission to the series is free. However, organizers suggest a donation of $5 per person to support ongoing education and bird conservation programs.