Berries of Winter: Feeding the Birds

Schedule

Sun Feb 26 2023 at 02:30 pm to 03:30 pm

Location

Christ Church Parish Hall | Staten Island, NY

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Learn all about berry-producing shrubs in the winter landscape!
About this Event

Please join us for this multimedia presentation by John Kilcullen, director of Conference House Park in Tottenville. Following the talk, John will lead a walk around the immediate neighborhood -- weather permitting -- and identify various plant species that feed the birds.

BACKGROUND

Berry-producing shrubs are one of the best food sources for birds, particularly in the winter when other food sources are scarce.

Birds that do not migrate, such as northern cardinals, woodpeckers and mockingbirds, depend on berrying shrubs in winter.

Some songbirds, such as cedar waxwings, eat fruit all year long, while others -- black-capped chickadees and bluebirds, for example -- primarily eat fruit in colder weather when their insect prey is unavailable.

Not all winter berries are created equal. Introduced, non-native plants such as honeysuckle and Callery pear produce ample winter fruit that birds consume. But the proliferation of these species in our yards, parks and natural areas does more harm than good.

The berries of these non-natives tend to be high in water and sugars and lower in fat, protein, and nutrients than our native berries, making them less nutritious for overwintering and migrating bird species. Invasive species displace native plant species, reducing the amount of nutritious food options for birds.

Free informational material will be provided.

This event is made possible with generous support from Con Edison.


Event Photos
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Where is it happening?

Christ Church Parish Hall, 76 Franklin Avenue, Staten Island, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 30.00

Native Plant Society of Staten Island, Inc.

Host or Publisher Native Plant Society of Staten Island, Inc.

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