Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
adorable!” “They look like marshmallows on stilts!” “How come I never heard of these
birds before? They're wonderful!”
Making people aware of the plovers and their plight in such a positive way has made
protecting them much easier.
Q I own some forested property that I've been managing for income but also for the
environment and to give something back to my local birds. I was going to plant some
oaks but experienced foresters told me not to, because they'd never be big enough to
bring in any income during my lifetime. What do you think?
A
Planting trees is something we do for the future. Even young oaks can provide a lot
of benefits for migrating Scarlet Tanagers and other birds, and for your viewing pleasure.
My recommendation is to find out from your county extension office or state department
ofnaturalresourceswhatthedominantforesttypewasinyourareabeforesettlement,and
then choose a variety of locally native species to plant. Select a mixture that will allow
you to selectively harvest some trees soon, for profit, while allowing other varieties to
grow for the future benefit of birds and your descendents.
Q Our city recently passed an ordinance that allows people to replace lawn with nat-
ive plants. Is this just a fad? Won't it be bad for robins?
A
Robins do love taking worms from lawns! But robins cannot live by worms alone —
a large part of their diet comes from insects and fruits associated with other kinds of ve-
getation. Compared to turf lawns, natural plantings provide a much wider variety of an-
imals, most notably butterflies and birds, with both food and shelter, while still fostering
worms for robins to enjoy. And locally native plants are adapted to locally native condi-
tions, requiring less watering, fertilizing, and pesticide applications than turf, allowing us
to create a safer environment for people and birds.
Turf lawns are a necessary element in golf courses and playing fields, and will always
appealtosomehomeownersaswell.Butwhenlocalordinancesallowhomeownerstore-
place traditional lawns with natural vegetation, they're acknowledging the different aes-
thetic tastes of constituents. And allowing natural vegetation also acknowledges the dif-
ferent tastes of the avian community, from robins to hummingbirds.
THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE: DEALING WITH PESTICIDES
Miners have long brought canaries into mines,
knowingthatthedeathofacanarywas
a warning of a clear and present danger to them, too. Wild birds have provided similar
warnings to us from above ground. In the spring of 1955, George J. Wallace, professor
of ornithology at Michigan State University, noticed that robins were dying around cam-
