Landscaping is for the Birds

Why should we care about the birds?  Because diverse bird populations are a direct mark of a healthy ecosystem--their lack of habitat is an indication of forest health and their declining numbers can be a barometer of  pollution.  Birds benefit the environment by being agents of seed dispersal, voracious consumers of insects and rodents, and important to pollination.  The Bird Education Network states, "People benefit because an environment that birds can thrive in is a healthy environment for humans."

What can YOU do to help the birds?  NJ Audubon provides a list of Ten Tips for Backyard Habitats.  A backyard habitat reduces the amount of your lawn which provides absolutely NO benefit to wildlife (except for deer & geese).  If you choose native plants and shrubs, not only will you provide food for the birds, you will help replenish the understory in our woods.  An extremely helpful online state-by-state plant finder (listing natives and invasives) can be found at eNature, and the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a comprehensive NJ list.

Whatever you do, don't plant invasive barberry or burning bush... their seeds are also dispersed by birds but the plants choke out what little native understory plants the deer don't eat.