Last spring, a ruby-crowned kinglet jogged frenetically along my bare pear branches, finding caterpillars and other tiny food. Both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets also feed in leaf litter. Seeing them feed (or not) is a measure of the quality of habitat we are growing for them.
Particularly at risk are species like caterpillars that feed on plants; they often need specific native plants (1). Pearly everlasting hosts seven butterfly and moth species, including American Painted Lady, and is also a nectar plant (2). The oceanspray plant hosts 39, goldenrod 49, and yarrow 18 species.
Bushes I planted as a boundary for my space also turned out to be furniture for song sparrows in which to build nests. Song sparrows are native sparrows—unlike house sparrows. The hedge turned out also to contain food for the birds, including insects and the intense evergreen huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum). Even though evergreen huckleberry leaves are tough, there are caterpillars that can eat the buds, including those of the Echo Azure butterflies.
To slow species extinction, we all have habitat to offer, whether it’s in a yard, plant pot, or planting strip.(3)
References:
- portland.gov/bps/environ-planning/portland-plant-list; sparrowhawknativeplants.com; livingscapeportland.com
- naba.org/chapters/nabaes/btrfly-gdng3.html; nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Wildlife/Butterflies-and-Moths/2
- pollinatorparkways.weebly.com
Gin McCollum has a food-thicket she is shifting to produce food not only for a human, but also for native birds and butterflies. She finds mathematical structure in neural systems and writes. She hopes for our familiar neighborhood habitat to become wild, native, healthy, and beloved.