Meena,
I second your points. Gardening for wildlife (especially birds)
is a great project, a lot of fun and a delight when the birds come.
Regi
I am also a fan of Spice Bush (lindera benzoin) and Winterberry,
among many others. Something as simple as Black Eyed Susans and
Cone flowers (leave them up in the fall) are good for birds and easy to grow.
Big bluestem is also very cool. You get the point....
At 09:05 PM 4/1/2012, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>
>
>I am a little bit concerned about promoting Forsythia for birds.
>They are just good for landing and hiding for birds near bird
>feeders. But they really are not such healthy food for birds.
><http://www.ehow.com/list_6019009_pests-forsythia-bush.html>http://www.ehow.com/list_6019009_pests-forsythia-bush.html
>
>Forsythia is promoted as the plant with no pests at all.
>
>
>
>If you want birds and habitats for them why not plant some native
>plants. There is "Native plants for native birds" published by our
>on bird club for guidance. You should look up some local plants
>that are good for birds and their food - insects that feed on them.
>
>
>
>For example all kinds of dogwoods - Red Dozier, and Gray Dogwood are
>excellent plants, they produce fruits which are eaten by birds
>during fall migration, that is when the fruits are ready. But they
>host at least some known thirty species of moths and these moths as
>adults and as larvae are excellent food for birds and their young.
>Some of these moths include beautiful Polyphemus moth, Dogwood
>Thyatirid, Prominents, many geometrids, which are found in spring
>and summer. Of course some of these moths/larvae may not be directly
>useful to all birds but are of indirect use. Their caterpillars are
>beautiful with variety of shapes and structures and some of the
>adults are just awesome if you are looking for beauty.
>
>
>
>I feel pained that native habitats are being destroyed and
>artificial habitats are being created. So why not create real
>habitat, I know it is very hard to create and maintain, but at least
>one can give a try.
>
>
>
>Meena
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Meena Haribal
>Ithaca NY 14850
><http://haribal.org/>http://haribal.org/
>http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/
>
>
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