Cultivate a special place for wildlife and boost biodiversity at any scale - at home, on your farm, in your forestland, or in a community space.
Winterberry & bluebird box at a client property (photo: Deb Perkins).
You are an eco-minded landowner and want to create thriving wildlife habitats right where you are – in your backyard, farm, woods, or community habitat.
I will partner with you to build a beautifully biodiverse place that reflects your values and provides wildlife with the special places they need to nourish themselves, stay safe, and raise young.
You can provide all of this to wildlife, right where you are, and at any scale.
You can begin right now. It’s easier than you think...
“Deb is a goldmine of knowledge and her enthusiasm for the natural world is contagious!”
Deb Perkins (photo x Jen Dean Photography).
Choose one of the core services:
Habitat Designs
Projects, Plans, Assessments, and more:
+ Wildlife Habitat Plans for Rural Landscapes, Forestland, Farmland, Conservation Lands, & More
+ Habitat Assessments & Plans for Land Trusts, Towns, and Private Landowners
+ Invasive Plant Assessments & Native Plant Restoration Plans
+ Special Projects
““Deb brought a level of expertise to our understanding of wildlife habitat and how we can improve our land that would not be possible from reading material alone.””
In-person Consultation
Service area includes all of Maine and parts of other northern New England States
I will personally visit your special place and:
Provide specific on-site recommendations for your unique landscape – whether your landscape is ¼ acre or a thousand acres.
Listen carefully and identify your specific interests, values, and needs.
Respond to your needs and questions with thoughtful advice and expert suggestions.
Identify trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and landscape features of value or concern.
Help you develop a phased action plan that meets your long-term vision and ecological values.
Give you a copy of my Habitat Handbook, specially developed for First Light clients.
Follow up with additional resources, links, and information to help you implement my recommendations.
Deb Perkins (photo x Jen Dean Photography).
The Personal Ecologist’s guidelines and specifications are specially developed for First Light clients.
The Consultation is a survey and a guided nature walk combined – think of it as an experience. You will learn a lot when you walk through your landscape with The Personal Ecologist by your side. You will see things you have never noticed. No matter what size, shape, or condition your landscape is in, you will discover its greater potential as an intentionally biodiverse, living landscape that will bring you pride and deep solace in today’s complicated world. Your wishes, concerns, and questions will be meaningfully addressed. You will feel hopeful and inspired, and come away with a clear vision of how you can transform your space into a thriving sanctuary for birds, pollinators, and other species of conservation concern.
As your Personal Ecologist, I offer three levels of in-person consultation services to meet a range of needs and budgets.
I make it fun and personal!
Reach out below for more information about levels of service and rates.
“I was a little nervous for Deb’s visit because our property is small and I was worried there would not be a lot we could do with it. Deb’s visit truly opened my eyes to seeing our property differently and how we might enrich it to be a more welcoming place for birds, wildlife and pollinators...not only did The Personal Ecologist visit with me, guide me and educate me, Deb empowered me to feel like I was my own personal ecologist.”
Virtual Consultation
Service area: Northeastern United States
I will connect with you via easy-to-use Zoom video conferencing, to:
Provide you with a Consultation (see above description for in-person) but within the scope of a virtual (internet) experience.
Leverage on-line maps and imagery, as well as any photos, sketches, and other information you send me ahead of time, to provide well-informed recommendations for your unique situation.
Virtually tour your yard and/or garden in real-time (if you have a strong, stable internet signal you can bring your device outside and show me areas you have questions about during the video conference). If this is not possible or does not appeal to you, a tour of photos and satellite imagery can be just as powerful.
Your Virtual Consultation includes:
A video recording of the entire 1.5-hour consultation which you can re-visit as many times as you want to refresh your memory of what we discussed, and to review the recommendations step-by-step.
A thoughtfully curated list of native plantings for specific zones with habitat values and information, and/or how-to documents on landscaping techniques, and/or habitat improvements for your special place.
A copy of my Habitat Handbook, specially developed for First Light clients.
Follow-up resources, links, and information to help you implement my recommendations.
Reach out below for more information about serviceS and rates.
““Although I would have preferred to walk my property with Deb in person, I chose a virtual consultation. After a quick review of my primary concerns, we began talking about options for removing nonnative plant species, adding refuge/cover for wildlife, and plants to support pollinators. She provided a lot of information, and although I was worried about remembering or writing all of it down, there was no need. Deb created a personal page for me with all the plant species she suggested...AND sent me the recording of our online conversation – all of which has been very helpful! Deb was easy to speak with, listened to and addressed all my topics of interest. I highly recommend a consultation with Deb and/or attending one of the various lectures she offers!”
Habitat Designs
A Habitat Design is a specialized type of ecological landscape design that is thoughtfully designed to provide quality wildlife habitat that is artfully integrated with human habitat (a home, yard, garden, farm, park, and/or business or academic campus).
A Habitat Design provides:
Thriving habitat for key wildlife species
Enhanced biodiversity
Ecological integrity across your landscape.
The design itself is a one-of-a-kind, visually appealing landscape drawing that will function as a blueprint for your habitat garden.
We can design a planting scheme for a garden or meadow, comprehensive plantings of native shrubs, trees, and perennials throughout a yard (or a corner of a yard), and much more.
Unveiling a Habitat Design at a luncheon event for a Wild By Design client. The hand-drawn landscape drawing (by our lead designer, Shana Hostetter) depicts native plantings for a newly constructed home site.
First Light Wildlife Habitats and Larkspur Design have joined forces to deliver this signature service as Wild By Design. Visit our design page to learn more.
Maine Habitat Garden designed by Wild By Design - summer blooms (photo: Shana Hostetter).
Maine Habitat Garden designed by Wild By Design -fall color (photo: Shana Hostetter).
Projects, Plans, Assessments, and more
I am available for a range of creative projects, plans, and assessments. For example, work with me to:
restore a buffer zone along a stream or river,
enhance brook trout habitat,
develop a planting scheme along your lake frontage to protect water quality,
create a grassland bird reserve on your farm,
develop a plan to enhance habitat, climate resilience, and biodiversity across your acreage, and/or
receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship.
The possibilities are endless!
Planting in progress at the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area to create habitat for the New England cottontail, per my shrub planting plan for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (photo: MDIFW)
