Over 80% of land east of the Mississippi is privately owned. This means that the single and most direct way of supporting birds is to provide food, shelter, water, nesting sites, and a safe place to rest right in our own yards. Native plants provide all of these things with the added bonus of supporting the entire ecosystem. In this program, Danielle aims to give important pointers on choosing and growing native plants for backyard habitat while demonstrating how even our simplest of choices can make a world of difference for our feathered friends.

Danielle began her native plant journey in 2010 when she started studying and propagating plants. Each year since, she has shared thousands of native plants with her local community. She acquired her Sustainable Agriculture degree, Master Gardener Certification and interpretive Guide certification as she continues to study. She has been working as an Interpretive Naturalist at LCCC and as a nonprofit volunteer for the past 13 years, helping to build educational and environmental value in the community, particularly in support of Black River Audubon Society and Wild One of Great Cleveland. She is the owner of Archers of Arcadia, a small native plant nursery, and works with Ohio Native Landscapes as plant operations coordinator. She is also a co-founder of the Window Strike Prevention Initiative; a local conservation movement aimed at decreasing bird-window collision fatalities. Danielle is passionate about the intricate weave of ecosystems, environmental health, biodiversity and wildlife habitat. Her goal is to enable the local community to create healthier ecosystems that support habitat for the wildlife who so desperately need our help.