On June 11, 2025, Horticulture Extension Agent Brandon George and Horticulture Council member Cliff Eubank collaboratively presented the educational program Gardening for Bird, Making Birdhouses. The initiative aimed to inform participants about the ecological importance of native plant landscaping in supporting avian biodiversity, and to provide practical guidance on the construction of bird nesting boxes for backyard habitats.

Recent research by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute underscores the role of native vegetation in sustaining local bird populations. In particular, a study focusing on Poecile carolinensis (Carolina chickadees) found that residential landscapes with at least 70% native plant biomass were necessary to maintain stable chickadee populations (Narango, Tallamy, & Marra). This outcome is primarily attributed to the critical reliance of birds on native arthropods, which themselves are adapted to native flora.

Complementing this, the American Bird Conservancy has estimated that 96% of terrestrial North American bird species depend on insects during at least one stage of their life cycle, further emphasizing the interconnectedness of native plants, insect populations, and bird survival.

The program educated attendees on the role of native plants in supporting avian diets, either directly through the provision of nectar, seeds, and fruits, or indirectly by fostering insect prey availability. Of the 23 individuals in attendance, two explicitly expressed appreciation for the information provided. Notably, when asked about Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy), most participants were unaware of its ecological value, particularly the importance of its berries as a winter food source for multiple bird species.

In the second portion of the program, Cliff Eubank presented detailed information on avian nesting preferences and habitat requirements. Cliff built and provided each participant with a handcrafted birdhouse, tailored for one of four common species in the region: Turdus migratorius (American robin), Troglodytes aedon (house wren), Thryothorus ludovicianus (Carolina wren), and Sialia sialis (Eastern bluebird). These nesting boxes serve not only to promote breeding success and shelter for local birds, but also offer potential benefits in integrated pest management by encouraging insectivorous species in residential and garden environments.

This program exemplified community-based conservation outreach by combining ecological education with actionable habitat support strategies that Cooperative Extension provides locally.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1809259115

https://abcbirds.org/whats-good-for-insects-is-good-for-the-birds/