The evidence behind the stories
Works cited.
Primary research, clear attribution, and room for the limits of what we know.
1. Residential plants and chickadees
Narango, D. L., Tallamy, D. W., & Marra, P. P. (2018). Nonnative plants reduce population growth of an insectivorous bird. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(45), 11549–11554.
Read the peer-reviewed paper ↗
Used in the DMV habitat explainer and campaign case study. Scope: residential vegetation and Carolina chickadees in the Washington metropolitan area. The article does not turn this into a guarantee for every yard or bird species.
2. Artificial light and migration
Van Doren, B. M., Horton, K. G., Dokter, A. M., Klinck, H., Elbin, S. B., & Farnsworth, A. (2017). High-intensity urban light installation dramatically alters nocturnal bird migration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(42), 11175–11180.
Read the peer-reviewed paper ↗
Used in the Coastal Maine essay. Scope: New York City’s Tribute in Light. The Maine household discussion is a clearly labeled interpretation, not a Maine field study or a quantified claim about residential lighting.
Editorial approach
Backyard Bird Haven is an independent publication by Elizabeth Carpenter. Stories connect personal experience with linked research and expert guidance. References identify the study’s species, location, and scope so readers can follow the evidence.
Observation exercises are invitations to learn. Practical recommendations account for the reader’s space and circumstances; wildlife visits and ecological outcomes are never guaranteed.
Project status and measurement
The website, seasonal web newsletter, and field guide are published. Campaign kits and product ideas are labeled as concepts. Scope figures count completed materials; performance results require a stated reporting period and a traceable source. Earlier social screenshots document the project archive, not a current growth trend.
Images and authorship
Editorial strategy, writing, and art direction: Elizabeth Carpenter. The website was developed with AI assistance. AI-assisted illustrations are labeled on their feature pages. Bird artwork expresses the brand’s visual identity; field photography and video are credited separately.
Personal field notes recount the author’s experiences. A story’s publication date does not imply the date of a photograph, video, or sighting.
Last editorial revision: September 18, 2026.