Birds & Pollinators – Feeding the Meter against climate change.

If you have driven downtown, you probably know the drill. Down one street, up another, window-shopping will be next only after the requisite parking space is spotted, captured, contained, and fulfilled. We race through the forest, head down watching our steps to reach a spot whereby we can stop, look up at the canopy, and for a brief moment understand how short our lives are, compared to the biological life and resiliency of a tree.

As we get older and measure the countdown instead of the count up, we realize we had better get all the planting we intend to do, complete now, to have any hope of picking the fruit of our labors.

Finally, an open parking space – Houston we have landed. Life here looks hard – physically hard, concrete, tar, bricks, artificial colors, sour ever-warming air, frequent heavy rains. What’s a shopper to do, but feed the meter to buy more time.

What currency - for our spot on an abused planet?  We deposit faith, and hope, and worry yet the needle moves not. None of us alone can save the world or morally hold a parking ‘spot’ forever. However, we can feed the meter enough to move the needle for the time we have left. The particular coinage is less important than making some effort to move the needle somewhat.

Will we go to the woods in place of downtown to purchase our prescription of happiness?  Maybe we can spend some time looking up, and around us and find a way to improve our own personal ecology and the planet’s ecology wherever we find ourselves.

We all know the drill. We know what would help us live more fulfilled and healthy lives, and we can each find ways to do something to help solve the problems of our time. We can feed the meter and window-shop in our own backyards, along our sidewalks, our parks, waterways in our community. We can window shop in the natural world – outside. We can help nature heal her-self, buying her and us more time to park and look up at the trees of long life.

Perhaps we can better appreciate the time, by planting a tree and watching it grow. Perhaps we can become more involved in the political process to gain more advantage on our deposits into the meter.

We have found our parking spot. Now it is time to feed the meter in whatever currency we have available to us that will move the needle.

Don’t just worry; do something. If planting a tree(s) or shrub(s) works for you, let me recommend the current tree sale at Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District.  Working for a cause larger than oneself is a prescription for happiness. Planting native trees and shrubs can help native pollinators and birds. Note caterpillars are a critical food source for over 95% of songbirds. They need caterpillars to feed their young. Many pollinators need larva host to develop/feed new generations. View information below describing how these plants support birds and pollinators.

Their selection this year focuses on “the best *native trees and shrubs to invite birds into your backyard”. Many if not all also support pollinators. Prices for the most part are from $6 to $10 per plant. (* The lilac, apple, River Birch, and currant are not native to VT).

Here are some of those for sale.

American Basswood (Tilia Americana) attracts birds, honeybees, bumblebees, native bees, and other pollinators. 143 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host, which in turn feeds chickadees and their young. It also attracts predatory or parasitic insects that prey on pest insects. It also provides nest sites for birds. May attract thrushes, chickadees, titmice, crows, jays, woodpeckers, wood warblers, orioles, finches, waxwings, vireos, cardinals, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, and thrashers.

American Hazelnut (Corylus Americana) feeds people and wild turkeys, attracts butterflies and moths. Provides nest site for birds. 143 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract finches, crows, jays, wood warblers, cardinals, grosbeaks, waxwings, vireos, chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers, sparrows, thrushes, mockingbirds, sparrows, orioles.

American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) perfect for nest-building birds including Blue jays. Attracts butterflies and moths and provides a nest site for birds. 68 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host.

American Plum (Prunus Americana) Covered with blossoms in the spring this naturally small tree (8-12 feet) bears small red plums for eating off the tree or in plum sauces and jams. This species is on the threatened list in Vermont. Even more reason to plant this wonderful tree. Attracts honeybees, bumblebees, native bees, and other pollinators. 407 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host.

Appletree Apple cultivar TBD. Could be semi-dwarf Liberty, semi-dwarf Dayon, full-size Bethel, or full-sized Novamac.

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) the seeds and buds are a good food source for birds including nuthatches. Provides nest sites for birds, attracts bees, butterflies, and moths. 124 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract woodpeckers, finches, waxwings, orioles, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, grosbeaks, wood warblers, mockingbirds, thrashers, crows, jays, vireos, thrushes, sparrows.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) High Pollinator Value. Produces an edible but puckering fruit that is great for the gray catbird. Attracts native bees, butterflies and moths, and other pollinators. 407 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract chickadees, titmice, wrens, nuthatches, thrushes, waxwings, vireos, wood warblers, cardinals, grosbeak. 

 

Catbird

Common Blackberry (Rubus allegheneinsis) beautiful reddish-purple fall leaf color and large white blossoms. Shiny large black juicy berries on thorny canes. These are favorite of the house finch. High Pollinator Value.  Attracts native bees, honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths, and other pollinators. Provides nesting structure for native bees. 157 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host.

American Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis) Attractive to goldfinches and other birds. Attractive to bees. Good eating. Bernie likes them on pancakes. They freeze well and also make great syrup.

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbsum) Blueberries provide food and a nest site for many birds so you may want to share them with your feathered friends.  Attractive to native bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and moths. 276 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract thrushes, waxwings, crows, jays, nuthatches, wrens, vireos, cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, titmice.

Crab apple (Malus Magenta) Beautiful small flowering tree. The fruit of this variety stays on the tree through the winter. Wonderful food for cedar waxwings and American Robins in early spring.

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) White edible fruit that attracts catbirds in the summer. Fruit endures through winter, providing food in difficult seasons for birds. Medium Pollinator Value. Attracts bees and other pollinators. 103 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract wren, waxwings, thrushes, woodpeckers, vireos, nuthatches, wood warblers, sparrows.

Northern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) Abundant cones provide seeds for birds. Nesting habitat for Cardinals. Good winter shelter for birds. 44 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract sparrows, chickadees, titmice, thrushes, waxwings, wood warblers, woodpeckers, vireos, mockingbirds, thrashers. 

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus Sericea)  round-shaped shrub that has red branches with clusters of white flowers that bloom in the spring. Hardy, with berries that attract eastern bluebirds. Attracts butterflies and moths. 115 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract woodpeckers, crows, jays, waxwings, sparrows, cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, titmice, vireos, thrushes, mockingbirds, thrashers, wood warblers, wrens, nuthatches, orioles.

River Birch (Betula Nigra) distinctive bark. Birch trees attract many bird species due to their bark, which houses many insects. Attractive to Pine Siskins.

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier Laevis) great small tree that blooms in early spring and produces delicious edible fruit in June. Attracts cedar waxwings, robins,  native bees including the blue orchard mason bee and other pollinators. 119 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract waxwings, wrens, orioles, vireos, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches, thrushes, sparrows, crows, jays, woodpeckers, wood warblers, mockingbirds, thrashers. 

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) this tall shaggy bark tree is attractive to insect-eating birds like woodpeckers. Provides nest site for birds and bats. 186 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract chickadees, titmice, vireos, wrens, sparrows, wood-warblers, mockingbirds, thrashers, crows, jays, finches. 

Bebb’s Willow (Salix bebbiana) One of the first shrubs to bloom in the spring. Provides essential food for pollinators and early-migrating birds. Wonderful nesting habitat. Attracts native bees, butterflies, moths. 415 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host.

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) fast-growing shade tree. Provides habitat and food for wildlife. Orioles like to nest in the treetops. Attracts honey bees, butterflies and moths. 280 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract woodpecker, chickadees, titmice, finches, thrushes, orioles, mockingbirds, thrashers, wood-warblers, vireos, wrens, sparrows, crows, jays, waxwings, grosbeaks, nuthatches. 

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) like all oaks, this species is an important host plant for native butterflies and moths. A great food source for the scarlet tanager. 401 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract finches, crows, jays, chickadees, titmice, sparrows, wood-warblers, grosbeaks, cardinals, waxwings, mockingbirds, thrashers, nuthatches, orioles, wrens, vireos, woodpeckers, thrushes. 

Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) flowering tree that blooms May to June. Poplar source of nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds. Attracts honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths, and other pollinators.

White Pine (Pinus Strobus) large pine provides food and nest sites for nuthatches, chickadees, and finches. Attracts bees. 232 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract thrushes, nuthatches, wood warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, finches, cardinals, grosbeaks, vireos, waxwings, chickadees, titmice, wrens, crows, jays, orioles, mockingbirds, thrashers.

White Spruce (Picea glauca) hardy tree that provides nesting sites, shelter, and food for many birds including the rose-breasted grosbeak. Attracts bees. 163 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) attractive red berries fruit throughout the winter and are an excellent food source for birds like cedar waxwings. . 33 species of butterflies and moths use this genus as a caterpillar host. May attract crows, jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, waxwings, vireos, wood warblers, mockingbirds, thrashers, cardinals, grosbeaks.

Plant warm hugs and Native plants!

~Bernie