Plants to Fuel Migrating Birds in the Southern Plains

Late summer time by means of autumn, hundreds of thousands of birds cross by means of the Southern Plains on their migration to southern wintering grounds. Birds comply with 4 fundamental paths as they migrate. The Southern Plains Area lies on the coronary heart of the biggest of those, the Central Flyway. Roughly half of North America’s migratory waterfowl use the Central Flyway, in addition to many shorebirds, together with sandhill cranes.

Of specific curiosity to gardeners are the lots of of songbird species that additionally migrate by means of the Southern Plains on their option to hotter climes. To gas the flight, many birds that consumed bugs all through the summer time swap to high-energy meals in fall, significantly fruits of native shrubs and bushes. Gardeners may give birds a lift by planting a variety of native fruit-bearing vegetation within the panorama to assist gas migrations.

Fruiting bushes to feed migrating songbirds

Fruiting bushes like Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana, syn. Rhamnus caroliniana, Zones 5–9) and rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum and cvs., Zones 5–9) not solely present fruits to birds, but in addition give them a spot to relaxation. The dense branches present safety for the birds in the course of the day between their nighttime migration flights. Each vegetation develop as small bushes or massive shrubs reaching 10 to twenty toes tall and extensive. These adaptable species tolerate warmth and drought, in addition to the alkaline soils frequent to many areas of the Southern Plains. Plant them in partial shade to full solar. Carolina buckthorn, notable for its golden fall foliage and burgundy-black berries, is maybe the higher panorama specimen. Rusty blackhaw places on a greater spring floral show, with clusters of white flowers in April and Might that appeal to butterflies and different pollinators.

Shrubs with berries for migrating birds

There are a selection of panorama shrubs that not solely provide lovely decorative shows but in addition are favorites of birds. Maybe essentially the most beloved of those is American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana and cvs., Zones 6–10), adored by gardeners and birds alike for its vibrant purple autumn berries. The fruits seldom final to winter, as they’re devoured by catbirds, wooden thrushes, northern mockingbirds, and American robins, however they placed on a stunning show till then. Plant in full to partial solar for optimum fruiting. Beautyberry tolerates clay soil and dry situations as soon as established. It will possibly attain as much as 8 toes tall and 6 toes extensive.

Different shrubs to contemplate for fueling chook migrations embrace strawberry euonymus (Euonymus americanus, Zones 6–9) and Southern wax myrtle (Morella cerifera, syn. Myrica cerifera, Zones 7–9). The crimson strawberry euonymus fruits dangle from the branches of the 4- to 6-feet-wide-and-tall shrub and are loved by a wide range of songbirds. Wax myrtle can get significantly taller within the wild, rising right into a small tree 20 toes tall and 10 toes extensive. However in cultivation it sometimes solely reaches round 10 toes tall and eight toes extensive. Its berries are wolfed up by tree swallows, yellow-rumped warblers, and scarlet tanagers, amongst others.

Fruiting vines that present meals for migrating birds

When choosing vegetation for birds, it is very important contemplate vines. Not solely do vines provide fruits and flowers, however they will present glorious shelter and summer time nesting websites as nicely. A seldom-used native definitely price its house within the panorama is American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens and cvs., Zones 3–8). This native is to not be confused with its invasive Asian relative, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus and cvs., Zones 4–8). American bittersweet produces an abundance of showy, vibrant orange berries in late summer time and early autumn. Plant in full solar to partial shade. This twining vine reaches lengths of 20 toes, spreading 2 to eight toes extensive. Vegetation tolerate salt, clay, and alkaline soils.

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens and cvs., Zones 4-9) is superb for fueling migrations of hummingbirds, which additionally want vitality for his or her long-distance migration. Hummingbirds migrate all through September and October, so maintain these feeders stuffed, and supply numerous flowering plant materials. Coral honeysuckle additionally produces small crimson berries that appeal to and feed migrating songbirds. A fast grower to 10 to twenty toes tall and three to six toes extensive, coral honeysuckle has beautiful blue-green evergreen foliage and periodic flowers all through the season. Plant in full solar, and supply loads of moisture to ascertain.

Go away some “weeds” for the birds too

Lots of the vegetation that volunteer themselves in our landscapes are glorious for wildlife. On the subject of fruit, pokeweed (Phytolacca americana, Zone 4–8) is tops. The darkish purple berries are eaten by jap kingbirds, summer time tanagers, thrushes, and great-crested flycatchers. Tough-leaf dogwood (Cornus sperifolia var. drummondii, syn. Cornus drummondii, Zones 5–8) gives shelter and berries for migrating songbirds. Additionally contemplate permitting Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia and cvs., syn. Vitis quinquefolia, syn. Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Zones 3–9) to ramble alongside the wooden’s edge. This vine produces attractive crimson fall foliage and berries that appeal to great-crested flycatchers, red-eyed vireos, jap kingbirds, hermit thrushes, and others.

Sustaining an abundance and variety of fruiting vegetation is an effective way not solely to draw songbirds to your panorama, but in addition to help them on their lengthy southward journey within the fall.

—Kim Toscano is a horticulturalist primarily based in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She beforehand hosted Oklahoma Gardening, a weekly PBS tv program produced by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Images: Kim Toscano