{"id":2083,"date":"2020-08-06T19:02:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T19:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=2083"},"modified":"2020-08-06T19:14:08","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T19:14:08","slug":"appreciate-and-help-nature-two-new-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=2083","title":{"rendered":"Appreciate and Help Nature: Two New Books"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviews by Edie Parnum<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nature\u2019s Best Hope:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard <\/strong><\/span><\/a>by Douglas W. Tallamy<\/em><\/p>\n

In his latest book, entomologist Doug Tallamy once \"\"<\/a>again inspires and informs us about gardening for nature.\u00a0 From Tallamy\u2019s previous research and books, we understand native plants\u2019 pivotal role in empowering the web of life.\u00a0 Insects, birds, mammals, and the rest of nature depend on native plants.\u00a0\u00a0 Human beings, too, rely on the functioning of nature. We require the healthy air, clean water, and carbon-storing plants and soil that are nature\u2019s products. Drawing on the latest research, he tells us how we can create an ecologically productive landscape in our own yards, inspire our neighbors, and help assure the health of the planet.<\/p>\n

Most people assume that nature can be preserved on public lands. Conservation happens, we assume, somewhere else beyond our control. In fact, most of our country\u2019s land is privately owned. We homeowners must create the landscapes where nature can thrive.\u00a0 Each of us can transform our own properties without the need to change government policy. Together we can create the \u201cHometown National Park\u201d.<\/p>\n

The suburbs offer the greatest opportunity to create this national park. Ninety-two percent of suburban land is lawn, a sterile landscape that doesn\u2019t support birds or other wildlife \u00a0\u00a0By reducing the area devoted to turf grass, we can make room for native trees, shrubs, vines, perennials and grasses. We\u2019re urged to plant lots of natives, not just a scattering of natives among the non-native ornamental exotics.\u00a0 Rather than isolated trees, plant groves of native trees and islands of native trees and shrubs.<\/p>\n

The Hometown National Park can exist even in cities. In New York City the High Line is an abandoned elevated rail line that has been converted into a walkway surrounded by native plants.\u00a0 It is a popular destination to observe nature including birds, butterflies, and native bees. In Chicago, a tiny, isolated 1\/10-acre garden is chockablock with native plants that have attracted 103 species of birds, including a woodcock.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Edie’s garden. Photo by Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

To support nature on our properties, Tallamy urges us to garden for insects. Certain keystone native plants offer optimal value to wildlife because they support insects.\u00a0 Previously, Tallamy has urged us to plant oaks, willows, cherries, and other native woody species that host a great number of caterpillars, essential food for birds. Now we know fallen leaves are also important, because 94% of caterpillars pupate in the leaf litter or soil. We can use these leaves as mulch and grow native groundcovers to shelter these leaves.<\/p>\n

Growing keystone native perennials is important for insects, too.\u00a0 For instance, goldenrods, normally considered weeds, are beautiful flowering plants that support 110 species of caterpillars. Thirty-five species of bees rely on the nectar and pollen of goldenrods.\u00a0 In addition, fifteen species of bees rear their young on goldenrod pollen.<\/p>\n

This newest book by Tallamy provides valuable insights about gardening for nature. Readers not previously exposed to Tallamy\u2019s ideas can benefit from first reading Bringing Nature Home<\/em>, his groundbreaking book about gardening for wildlife with native plants. It includes a valuable list of the keystone woody plants that host the most caterpillars, plus a regional guide to recommended plants. The Living Landscape<\/em>, co-authored with Rick Darke, provides comprehensive lists of native plants by regions and their ecological functions.<\/p>\n

Tallamy\u2019s writing is optimistic and empowering. This illustrated book gives us a practical, science-based guide to climate-wise gardening.\u00a0 By using native plants in our gardens, we can reverse declines in wildlife and support the earth-sustaining functions that store carbon and give us clean air and water. Our individual gardening practices plus those of our friends and neighbors can make a difference for the health of our planet.<\/p>\n

\n

What It\u2019s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating, Singing —\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/a>What Birds Are Doing, and Why<\/span> by David Allen Sibley<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

David Sibley is a renowned bird artist, so we\u00a0\"\"<\/a>would expect beautiful images of birds in his newest book. Indeed, his birds seem to fly off the pages in the life-like illustrations. These are not static birds posing for their pictures. They fly, swim, eat, sing, preen, court, feed young, and more. They are always doing something, so we see what it\u2019s like to be a bird.<\/p>\n

My favorite images show birds living their lives.\u00a0 A male Northern Cardinal offers food to his mate.\u00a0 A Common Yellowthroat feeds a Brown-headed Cowbird fledgling.\u00a0 To survive a snowstorm, Mourning Doves fluff their feathers and hunker down. The drawings illustrate key information.\u00a0 For instance, a Brown Pelican doesn\u2019t use its pouch as a basket for carrying fish. Instead, Sibley, using both words and illustrations, clarifies its use as an underwater scoop to capture fish.<\/p>\n

Using the latest ornithological research, Sibley also utilizes text to explain his illustrations. I wanted to know how a woodpecker extracts insects buried in the bark of a tree.\u00a0 The images and text show us a long, barbed tongue that can bend to reach into the crevices.\u00a0 When not in use, this exceptionally long tongue retracts to curve around the back of the bird\u2019s brain. Then I became curious about the tongues of other birds.\u00a0 From the woodpecker page I was directed to information about hummingbird tongues.\u00a0 Thus, I become a curious traveler, following a trail of information through the book.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Image by Howard B. Eskin. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sibley\u2019s introduction aids the curiosity-driven navigation.\u00a0 All the brief illustrated essays are arranged into topics such as bird sight, sleep, growing new feathers, the digestive system, and many more.\u00a0 For instance, avoiding predators is a topic with 23 brief essays.<\/p>\n

I plan to keep this book handy for regular use.\u00a0 It\u2019s too big to take into the field or read in bed.\u00a0 Instead I\u2019ll keep it next to the chair where I watch birds, referring to it when I have questions and then following the trail from one topic to another.\u00a0 I\u2019ll discover gems of information and be impressed by the beauty, complexity, and richness of bird life.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviews by Edie Parnum Nature\u2019s Best Hope:\u00a0\u00a0A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy In his latest book, entomologist Doug Tallamy once again inspires and informs us about gardening for nature.\u00a0 From Tallamy\u2019s previous … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2083"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2106,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083\/revisions\/2106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}