How to Choose Bird-Friendly Plants

This event was the first in a series of our Winter 2025 talks on Supporting Birds in Our Community.

Dr. Martha Gach, asked “Do you want to attract and support birds?”

She then challenged and invited us to choose native plants to create an environment that does just that!

Her talk included ideas for cultivating a healthy habitat using locally-adapted trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses that provide food, shelter, and nesting material. Over 35 attendees took home specifics as well as general principles that can be applied to a variety of spaces from patios to parks. 

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You can access the video of this talk
HERE

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In 2019, the New York Times reported that over 2 billion birds have been lost since 1970, almost 30% of all our birds! 

Loss of habitat and use of insecticides are the primary causes.

We can help reverse the trend by planting to support birds, and by maintaining our landscapes to build diversity.

“Years ago I wanted to draw birds to my yard and I looked for berry bushes,” said Nancy Hazard, member of Greening Greenfield. ”Then I read Doug Tallamy’s book Bringing Nature Home and learned that berry bushes were not enough! My yard was missing what birds need to raise their young – native plants, especially trees and shrubs, where birds will find the protein-rich caterpillars they need for their nestlings.”  

Gach’s talk addressed what we can do to help insects and birds thrive!