North Fork Audubon Society
Greenport West, NY
The mission of North Fork Audubon Society, a volunteer-based chapter of National Audubon, is to “connect people with nature” through education, conservation, and hands-on experiences that preserve bird and wildlife habitat. Headquartered at the Roy Latham Nature Center in Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport, NY, we demonstrate best practices for local landscaping by replacing invasive plant species with those native to Long Island, prioritizing water conservation, and creating wildlife habitat.
Bird migration research has confirmed a steep drop in migrating bird populations. A major reason is the loss of native trees and shrubs providing calorie-rich berries that migrating and overwintering birds need to survive. Invasive plant species are overwhelming and replacing our native plant communities. Inspired by Dr. Douglas Tallamy’s “Homegrown National Park®/Start a New Habitat®,” we encourage people to create new ecological networks by planting native berry-producing trees and shrubs where we live and work. Our community initiative, “Berries for Birds,” uses his model of cooperative conservation, and our new “Berries for Birds Garden” will demonstrate the best species to plant to support bird migrations.
Plant species contain different amounts of sugars, fatty acids, and other nutrients, and ripen in different seasons. Sweet fruits predominate in the spring; for example, on our native serviceberry, wild cherry, and mulberry trees. Fall migrating birds require fruits high in fatty acids, available then on spicebush, magnolia, sassafras, and flowering dogwoods. Some fall fruits have lower lipid contents, making them less prone to turn rancid and rot on the plant. These fruits, available even later in the fall, are found on mountain ash, hawthorn, and cranberry viburnum. Nannyberry fruits wither on the vine and thus remain available for wintering robins, bluebirds, and flickers.
The “Berries for Birds Garden” will be planted in Fall 2024 as autumn is best for planting native perennials, and we thank ReWild for supporting us in sourcing native plants and signage for it. Because heavy deer browse destroys many native berrying plants, the new garden is designed using two types of deer fencing: an 8-foot high woven-wire fence, too tall for deer to jump; and a double fence just 4 feet high but 5 feet apart that deer won’t jump, either. Both fencing styles are easy to replicate, offering choices depending on your garden size. Visit the garden to discover what a difference you can make by planting native berries and plants for birds where you live!
Get involved with the ReWild Garden at the North Fork Audobon by emailing Ellen at ebirenbaum@northforkaudubon.org.