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Every Acre Counts: Conserving Habitat for Birds, Webinar, November 19th

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Tuesday, November 19, 2024
4 –  5 pm
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Free. Register here.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has conserved millions of acres of habitat for birds like the Swainson’s Thrush, Golden-winged Warbler, and the rare Cundinamarca Antpitta over the past 30 years. But there is much more to be done: Habitat loss is the most urgent threat facing wild birds today.

Habitat conservation is essential for bird conservation — and the good news is, you can help, whether it’s working in your own neighborhood or supporting establishment of a reserve that spans thousands of acres.

Join ABC to explore how they’re conserving land for birds, from one acre to 10,000 — and how you can, too. You’ll learn ways to minimize pesticide use in backyards and about how ABC is helping to do the same on agricultural land. Looking farther afield, you’ll find out how ABC is improving critical bird habitat with landowners and public land managers in the Great Lakes, and their efforts to establish reserves with partners in Bolivia that benefit Endangered resident birds, such as the Red-fronted Macaw and Palkachupa Cotinga.

You’ll discover how every bird-friendly action, whether big or small, can make an impact on the habitat birds need to thrive. Join them and get inspired to take bold action for birds!

You’ll hear from ABC experts and partners, including:
• Edward Hardy Kern, Director of Government Relations, Birds and Pesticides Campaign
• Jayme Strange, Northern Forests Conservation Delivery Network Coordinator
• Marcelo Tognelli, International Project Officer

If you can’t make the webinar live, RSVP now and they’ll send you a recording to enjoy when the time is right for you.

Build a Mini Bird Sanctuary

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Article by Plant NOVA Natives

Photo: Common Grackle by Paula Sullivan

The best sanctuaries for birds are undisturbed expanses of forests and meadows. Anyone can see that those are rapidly disappearing in Northern Virginia, and where they remain, they are rapidly shrinking below the size needed for many bird species. Those in charge of any patch of land can help some of these birds by adding plants to expand the habitat value of nearby parks and natural areas.

The partnering organizations that together make up Plant NOVA Natives are inviting individuals and communities to participate in a “Bird Sanctuary Planting Weekend,” October 25-28. People will be installing native canopy trees and understory plants all on the same weekend, all across the region, in a big celebration of trees and the natural world. In Fairfax County, the first twenty faith communities to apply will receive a free “mini bird sanctuary” – a native canopy tree and two native shrubs – assuming they have an appropriate location, as confirmed by volunteers who will be doing site visits to help the communities evaluate their properties for opportunities to improve habitat.

What does it take to provide sanctuary for birds? The first requirement is that the plants be native to the local ecosystem. This is because the diet of baby birds consists primarily of caterpillars, and most caterpillars can only eat the plants with which they evolved. By far the biggest source of food for caterpillars is the leaves of large native shade trees, by virtue of their immense canopy compared to smaller plants. The second requirement is to provide food for the adults. Adult birds also require caterpillars and other bugs for protein. They also need the seeds and fruits from the smaller native trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers that are tailor-made for their nutritional needs (unlike those of many non-native plants.) Different bird species feed and nest at different heights from the ground, so native plants are needed at all levels. You may notice, for example, the preference of sparrows and robins for the ground layer, bluebirds for the shrubs, bluejays higher still, and woodpeckers in the canopy. (The fact that some birds require the lower levels is the reason why it is so imperative to keep cats indoors.)

Another reason to install native plants at the ground layer Is that many of those caterpillars feeding up in the trees spend part of their life cycles sheltering on the ground. They cannot find the habitat they need in mounds of mulch, not to mention in lawns where they get chopped up by lawn mowers. What does provide shelter is native perennials and dead leaves.  So once you have your trees and shrubs in place, you can have the fun of exploring the numerous native groundcover options, gradually expanding the landing pad out to the drip line as the trees grow.

Service Project at Monticello Park, November 19th

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Photo: Northern Parula by Randy Streufert

Sunday, November 19, 2023
1 – 3 pm
Monticello Park
320 Beverly Drive, Alexandria

This program is part of Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Alexandria Recreation, Parks and Culture.

Please join them for a service project in Monticello Park to restore trails damaged by erosion and remove non-native invasive plants to make room for more native plants that will benefit all of the park’s wildlife including its birdlife. This park is well loved among birders – so pitch in to help keep this gem of a park in good shape!

Please dress in layers, wear solid footwear and bring work gloves if you have them.

About Monticello Park: Among local birders, this 6.5-acre park is renowned for its great diversity of migrating warblers; nearly all eastern species have occurred here. The park’s creek is a focus for migrant activity, which is significant throughout the day. A steep canyon and creek are the prominent features of the site. This site was designated a Community Forest. Visit mpnature.com to learn more about the bird species that depend on this crucial migration stop-over.