Native Landscape Design

Catbird Ecology & Design offers custom design services for residential, public, and institutional clients, with a focus on designing spaces with and for native plants. Catbird prioritizes the use and reuse of local materials, emphasizing the protection of desired on-site plants and soils to both safeguard ecological health and reduce project cost. Catbird collaborates with clients to develop clear project goals focused on improving human connection with diverse wildlife and healthy natural communities.

Land Stewardship Consulting

Catbird Ecology & Design provides consulting services focused on the restoration and ongoing stewardship of habitat areas. This includes meadow conversions and restorations, native sod salvaging and reuse, planning for improved forest health, native hedgerow design, invasive plant management, and the development of clear stewardship guidelines and plans aligned with the client’s capacity for ongoing habitat management.

Habitat and Biodiversity Planning

Catbird Ecology & Design conducts habitat planning at various scales, from small backyards to multi-acre woodlands. This work encompasses plant diversity inventory and monitoring, habitat connectivity planning, and stewardship strategies targeted at indicator species, critical flora and fauna whose presence signals ecosystem health.

Plant Selection Consulting

Catbird Ecology & Design collaborates with peer landscape architects and other designers in need of specialist knowledge regarding native plant communities, habitats, and ecologies of the Northeast. Catbird develops plant palettes appropriate to the site and creates robust and beautiful plantings aligned with the broader project design. Catbird can assist with procurement, coordinate contract growing with local nursery partners, and develop stewardship plans tailored to the assembled plant communities.

Land Introduction Walks

Catbird Ecology & Design offers private land introduction walks where founder Kat Wyatt spends a day with you and your land, teaching plant identification, sharing knowledge about your local habitats, and offering guidance on stewardship and restoration strategies. We care best for what we know, so Kat hopes to lower the barrier to entry for habitat and land stewardship by collaborating with you as you get to know your land. Kat also offers stewardship lessons, working alongside you as you learn how to manage your garden and land with your own hands.

Lectures & Plant Walks

Kat Wyatt lectures to public audiences, university students, and design peers about the value of native plants, the conservation potential of residential landscapes, habitat restoration and invasive plant management, and the native ecosystems of the northeastern US. She is open to developing new talks in collaboration with partner organizations. Kat also leads plant walks for groups, focused on interactive plant identification and story-based nature education.