Winter Garden For The Birds
By Laurie Casey
The Morton Arboretum
You can be cozy warm in your home, and yet still appreciate the outdoors this time of year by watching the birds. In an urban winter garden, a cardinal may perch on a backyard feeder, a sparrow will flit from a parkway tree or a hawk might sit proudly in a nearby branch. You can maximize the experience—for you and them—by providing food, shelter and water sources.
Choose plants with a thought to their winter usefulness, said Jan Little, assistant director of education at the Arboretum. “Grow plants that have persistent fruit, seeds, or other edible parts that are held above the snow line,” said Little. These may include lead plant, fragrant sumac, coralberry and wild blackberry.
You also can attract specific bird species by planting certain trees and shrubs. According to research, blue jays love oak acorns. Cedar waxwings prefer junipers. Cardinals like grapevines. That said, no one tree or plant supplies a bird’s total dietary or shelter needs, so having many different types of plantings is ideal, said Little. Find a free, informational leaflet on “Trees and Shrubs that Attract Birds” www.mortonarb.org. Select “Plant Trees”, then “Selection and Care,” then “Selection Guide.”
And for the dedicated winter bird lover, there are annual winter bird counts now through January 5. Hundreds of volunteers in northeastern Illinois are recording the birds they find within 15-mile diameter counting circles. It’s part of the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count throughout North and South America.
Preliminary results from this year’s Lisle-Arboretum Christmas Bird Count on December 14 show that 80 different kinds of birds were recorded, including one that was never sighted before, the horned grebe, according to Geoffrey Williamson, circle compiler for the Lisle-Arboretum count. “The count went really well. That’s only the fourth time in 60 counts that we’ve found 80 species or more.” There were record high sightings for bald eagles, brown creepers and common mergansers.
Eastern bluebirds are increasing in numbers at the Arboretum, according to a monitoring program at the facility. With over 100 bluebird houses and properly-managed open space and natural areas, the eastern bluebird has done remarkably well, preferring remote areas of the museum’s tree collections that are not mowed very often, says Kurt Dreisilker, the Arboretum’s manager of natural resources. But elsewhere, the bluebird, a savanna species, has declined over time as savannas waned.
The Christmas Bird Count is used to estimate bird species populations and see patterns in bird life over time, said Williamson, a Chicago resident who also leads bird watching outings in Lincoln Park for the Chicago Ornithological Society.
Other local counts include the December 14 Chicago Urban Count and the December 25 Chicago Lakefront Count. According to the National Audubon Society, more than 57 million birds were reported in 2007’s Christmas Bird Count.
Glad You Asked
Q. How can I learn about other local Christmas Bird Counts now through January 5?
A. Visit www.audubon.org/bird/cbc. There may be a modest fee to participate. Upcoming counts include the North Shore on December 27, Waukegan on January 1, and Kankakee Valley on January 3. If you miss these, plan for the Great Backyard Bird Count February 13-16, 2009. Find information at www.birdsource.org/gbbc
Q. How can I learn more about birds and birding?
A. Ornithology classes for adult learners are available at the Arboretum, including “Field Study, Birds of Winter,” “Natural History of Birds,” “Challenges of Birding,” and “Eagles at Starved Rock.” For dates, times, and prices call (630) 719-2468.
At the Arboretum
Wing it: Get to know many of Illinois’ resident birds on a “Winter Bird Walk” amid the serene landscapes of the Arboretum. 8 -11 a.m., February 28. Fee is $16 (discount for members.) Registration now open. Call (630) 719-2468.
Brand new this month: Cross-country skiing! Bring your own skis and experience the ultimate sense of freedom amid trees and nature when you go off-trail. For walkers: delight in snowshoeing! Both activities free with Arboretum admission (extra charge applies to snowshoe rental), and kids’ admission (up to age 17) is free with a paid adult, through and including January 4.
Laurie Casey is a staff writer at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.