{"id":887,"date":"2013-10-11T01:48:12","date_gmt":"2013-10-11T01:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=887"},"modified":"2014-04-08T01:33:04","modified_gmt":"2014-04-08T01:33:04","slug":"native-berries-for-fall-migrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=887","title":{"rendered":"Native Berries for Fall Migrants"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Edie Parnum<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Birds were dropping out of the sky into the trees and shrubs around me. It was daybreak on a fall morning in my backyard. \u00a0Though I could see only silhouettes, I recognized the chips of robins and Swainson\u2019s Thrushes.\u00a0 In the dim light I couldn\u2019t identify the other numerous birds but knew these were migrants that had flown non-stop from the north during the night.<\/p>\n

After their nighttime exertion, they were exhausted and ravenously hungry.\u00a0They needed to find high-energy food and to revive in a habitat offering shelter from predators.\u00a0 With most of the surrounding area covered with buildings, roads, parking<\/p>\n

\"Cedar<\/a>

Cedar Waxwing eating Crabapple berries. Courtesy of and \u00a9 Howard Eskin. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

lots, and sterile lawns, they were desperate for sustenance.\u00a0 From above, the migrants probably see the local parks as deceptively inviting, but the grass and other non-native vegetation provide little nutritious food.\u00a0 Their energy depleted, these migrants need familiar and nourishing native plant food.\u00a0 Otherwise they are in trouble.<\/p>\n

Watching these migrants, I imagine myself on a road trip, one I\u2019ve done many times.\u00a0 After hours of driving, I\u2019m hungry, tired, and low on gas.\u00a0 I\u2019m looking forward to Rosie\u2019s Restaurant, a favorite stop for good food, gas, and a respite from the journey.\u00a0 To my dismay, the restaurant and adjacent gas station are gone.\u00a0 Wasting time and energy, I must drive around randomly to locate what I need before resuming my trip.<\/p>\n

Migrants often find my yard and use it to rest and refuel.\u00a0 During fall migration, especially after a cold front, I search for recent arrivals. \u00a0Sometimes I find thrushes, tanagers, grosbeaks, and warblers eating berries on the Virginia Creeper, Arrowwood Viburnum, Winterberry Holly, Spicebush, Black Chokeberry, Flowering Dogwood, Crabapple, and Northern Bayberry I\u2019ve planted for them. One winter a southbound Hermit Thrush stayed in my yard all winter eating American Holly berries.<\/p>\n

This fall I\u2019ve been watching a Gray Catbird eating berries on the Virginia Creeper<\/p>\n

\"Cape<\/a>

Cape may Warbler eating Virginia Creeper berries. Courtesy of and \u00a9 G. Dewaghe. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

hanging above my deck railing.\u00a0 Because the bird is just a few feet away, I don\u2019t really need my binoculars.\u00a0 It lands on a branch, leans forward, grabs one of the blue-black berries, then quickly swallows\u2014again and again, all day long. \u00a0Either a resident breeder soon to migrate or a recent arrival using my yard as a stopover, this bird needs these berries. Besides Gray Catbird I\u2019ve seen Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson\u2019s Thrush, American Robin, Cape May Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler eating Virginia Creeper berries.<\/p>\n

Prior to migration, songbirds must increase their weight by 50-100%.\u00a0 Thrushes, grosbeaks, waxwings, orioles, tanagers, and other songbirds switch from a diet of insects to mostly berries.\u00a0 Finding berries consumes less energy than pursuing insects.\u00a0 Scott McWilliams and Navindra Seeram, researchers at the University of Rhode Island, are studying the diet of birds preparing for migration on Block Island.\u00a0 According to this new research, birds select deeply-pigmented berries<\/p>\n

\"Highly<\/a>

Highly nutritious Arrowwood Viburnum berries were most preferred by migrants preparing for fall migration in the Block Island study. Photo \u00a9 Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

that are high in antioxidants and fat prior to\u00a0migration.\u00a0 Antioxidants help birds(as well as humans) handle stress.\u00a0 Because migration is certainly stressful, birds need to find nutrient-rich berries at stopovers along their migratory routes.<\/p>\n

Migration is hazardous for birds.\u00a0 On their southward journey they fly at night for four to six hours without a break. They must stop and refuel several times before reaching their wintering grounds, especially if their final destination is the tropics.\u00a0 They spend four to five days at each stopover where most consume nutrient-rich berries.\u00a0 If they fail to find sufficient fuel for the next leg of their journey, they become weak and vulnerable to hawks, owls, and other predators.<\/p>\n

Scientists tell us even small patches of native plants can provide food and shelter for migrating birds.\u00a0 On my three quarter acre property, I\u2019ve planted scores of fruit-bearing native shrubs, trees, and vines.\u00a0 Besides the shrubs mentioned, I\u2019ve recently planted Black Gum, Hackberry, Sassafras, and Spicebush that will offer fruits in future autumns. \u00a0Also, in a few spots I allow Pokeweed (regrettably considered a weed by most gardeners) to grow and produce beautiful dark purple berries irresistible to birds.<\/p>\n

Since many ornamental and invasive non-native plants produce berries, why are native plants so important for migrating birds?\u00a0 With their high fat content and extra antioxidants, native berries are highly nutritious.\u00a0 Because the natives usually have<\/p>\n

\"Birds<\/a>

Birds do eat non-native berries. This Gray Catbird is eating invasive Porcelainberry and, regrettably, spreading the seeds. Photo courtesy of and \u00a9 Adrian Binns\/Wildside Nature Tours.com. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

strongly-colored berries, either black or red, or have leaves or stems that are bright red, birds can easily find them.\u00a0 Also, the native berries ripen at the right time.\u00a0 Many migrants, especially warblers, continue to eat insects as well\u2014found primarily on native plants.\u00a0 If necessary, of course, birds will also eat the less nutritious fruits of non-native plants.<\/p>\n

Most yards have room for shrubs.\u00a0 You can plant native fruit-bearing shrubs and small trees around your property\u2019s perimeter to create a hedgerow laden with nutritious fall fruits.\u00a0 You can also group them around isolated trees.\u00a0 By reducing your lawn, you\u2019ll find room for more shrubs and other fruiting plants.<\/p>\n

Birds, especially those that migrate to the tropics, are in trouble.\u00a0 On average, the populations of long-distance migrant species drop 1% each year. We assume we can do little except give money to organizations that preserve land.\u00a0 However, we can help migrating birds survive their perilous and crucial journeys by growing the plants they need and love.<\/p>\n

References:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.naturalnews.com\/029391_birds_superfoods.html#<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2010\/03\/100324155357.htm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Top Native Berry Plants\u00a0for Fall Migrants<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latin Name<\/td>\nCommon Name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trees<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Celtis occidentalis<\/td>\nHackberry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornus florida<\/td>\nFlowering Dogwood<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ilex opaca<\/td>\nAmerican Holly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Malus coronaria<\/td>\nCrabapple<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nyssa sylvatica<\/td>\nBlack Gum\/ Tupelo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sassafras albidum<\/td>\nSassafras<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shrubs<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aronia arbutifolia,\u00a0A. melanocarpa\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nRed Chokeberry, Black Chokeberry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornus racemosa, C. amonum<\/td>\nGray Dogwood, Silky Dogwood<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ilex verticillata<\/td>\nWinterberry Holly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lindera benzoin<\/td>\nSpicebush<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Myrica pensylvanica<\/td>\nBayberry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Viburnum \u00a0 acerfolium, V. dentatum, V. lentago,V. nudum, V. prunifolium<\/td>\nMapleleaf Viburnum, Arrowwood \u00a0 Viburnum, Nannyberry, Possumhaw,\u00a0 Black \u00a0 Haw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vines and \u00a0 Herbaceous Plants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parthenocissus quinquefolia<\/td>\nVirginia Creeper Vine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phytolacca americana<\/td>\nPokeweed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Edie Parnum Birds were dropping out of the sky into the trees and shrubs around me. It was daybreak on a fall morning in my backyard. \u00a0Though I could see only silhouettes, I recognized the chips of robins and … 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":[27,71,8,34,36,60,70,35,22,5],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887"}],"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=887"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":939,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887\/revisions\/939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}