The Arbor Day Foundation and Wild Birds Unlimited have partnered to plant trees in forests across the United States and Canada. These targeted planting projects will help restore areas of degraded habitat that house vulnerable species of migratory birds, song birds, and a variety of other wildlife.
In Florida, trees will be planted within the Econfina and Chipola watersheds as well as the Wakulla Springs State Park to help restore declining longleaf pine stands that serve as critical nesting homes to the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. In the Pacific Northwest, trees will be planted in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest, a key part of the threatened Northern Spotted Owl’s hunting ground. Just north in British Columbia, trees are needed to support the essential breeding ecosystems of the migratory Sandhill Cranes and other at-risk bird species. More than 35 species of birds that visit our backyard feeders use the above habitats as their home year-round, to raise a family, or as a stopover during their migration.
“Trees help protect vital ecosystems, allowing wildlife to continue to thrive in their natural habitats,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Our partnership with Wild Birds Unlimited helps us bring attention to the growing need to protect these critical forests and the species that call them home.”
For the past 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked to plant nearly 500 million trees in forests and communities around the world. Through a global network of partnerships, the Foundation facilitates projects that empower organizations of all sizes to reach their environmental and sustainability goals via measurable, impactful work through trees and forests. The Foundation recently announced an initiative to plant 500 million trees over the next 5 years in the forests and communities that need them most.
“Trees are vital to birds and their ecosystem in so many ways. Not only do trees provide shelter and a place for birds to raise their young, but they also provide multiple food sources,” said Brian Cunningham, director of outreach & nature education for Wild Birds Unlimited. “Many trees generate seeds, nuts or fruits. But they also attract an array of insects, especially caterpillars which birds feed to their nestlings or consume to fuel themselves during migration.”
According to an article published in the journal Science*, nearly three billion birds have been lost since 1970; that’s one in four birds gone in less than a single lifetime. Wild Birds Unlimited is committed to inspiring their customers and communities into action to help Save the Song Birds. Following these seven simple actions, anyone can help reverse the decline in bird populations and Save the Song Birds in their backyard. When we work together, we can make a difference.
*Source: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aaw1313
