Landscaping to Attract Birds in South Florida

While we have a large population of native birds that always need food, fall and spring are critical times to provide food for migrating birds.  Adding a few native shrubs and trees to your landscape can be very beneficial to our wildlife population.  -- Gene

 

FLORIDA HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE FACT SHEET

Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville John T. Woeste, Dean for Extension

 

Landscaping to Attract Birds in South Florida

By Timothy K. Broschat and Stephen D. Verkade

Associate Professor - Tropical Ornamentals, and Associate Professor - Ornamental Horticulture, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

 

One benefit of Florida living is the enjoyment of plants and wildlife in the landscape through most of the year. By proper plant selection, you can enhance your landscape to attract, feed, and shelter birds for year-round enjoyment. When selecting plants to incorporate into the landscape, keep in mind the need for birds to obtain shelter from inclement weather and from predators. A number of plant species can also attract birds by providing fruits as a source of food. Flowers of some species attract insects, which are in turn eaten by other types of birds. Migratory birds are particularly abundant along the coastal ridges in southern Florida. These birds can be attracted to landscapes by use of plants that provide seeds, fruits or insects during the fall and spring migrations. These food sources can be complemented by one or more bird feeders which must provide high quality seed with regularity. A good bird feeder should be conveniently located for viewing and large enough to hold food for at least 2-3 days, protect the seed from rain, and minimize seed spillage. Many bird guidebooks provide information on the bird species attracted by various seed types. Keep in mind that many of south Florida’s songbirds are migrants or winter residents, and will thus require food or cover during the fall, winter, and spring months only.

 

Landscape Principles to Attract Birds

 

Solid design concepts are important in any landscape project, and references on design principles are listed in this fact sheet under the heading of ‘Recommended References’. The following are additional considerations to remember when landscaping to attract birds.

 

· Provide shelter to entice birds into your yard and to protect them from the elements or predators.

 

· Select a variety of plants which offer a consistent supply of food over an extended period of time.

 

· Select plants that flower or fruit during the spring migrations and attract insects. Insects, in turn, attract insectivorous birds. In some areas in southern Florida, the flowering gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) attracts  large numbers of warblers in their spring breeding plumage as they migrate northward.

 

· Design plantings which offer enough food to meet the needs of the birds.

 

· Provide a source of water for drinking and bathing. Moving water in a gently sloping basin or trough is particularly attractive to birds.

 

These criteria can be met by careful planning during the design phase of the landscape project. Select a variety of plants to extend the fruiting period for a year-round supply of food. Group plants together to create habitats attractive to birds. Be sure to include enough plants of each species to provide food in a volume great enough for the dietary needs of the birds attracted to your yard. The following listing is designed to assist you in selecting plants which have attributes particularly attractive to birds.

 

Table 1. Listing of plants for south Florida which attract birds; noting origin, plant type, plant part of value, season, and birds attracted.

 

Scientific Name	Common Name	Origin	Plant Type	Value	Season	Birds Attracted
Ardisia escallonioides	Marlberry	native	shrub	fruit	fall; winter	Fruit-eating birds
Asclepias curassavica	Scarlet Milkweed	exotic	shrubby perennial	flowers	year-round	Hummingbirds
Bauhinia blakeana	Hong Kong Orchid	exotic	tree	flowers	winter; spring	Hummingbirds, Orioles, Warblers
Bursera simaruba	Gumbo Limbo	native	tree	fruit	summer	Mockingbirds, Vireos
Calliandra haematacephala	Powderpuff	exotic	shrub	flowers	winter	Hummingbirds
Callicarpa americana	Beautyberry	native	shrub	fruit	fall; winter	Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Catbirds, Thrashers
Calyptranthes pallens	Spicewood	native	shrub	fruit	fall	Fruit-eating birds
Cestrum spp.	Day and night-flowering jasmine	exotic	shrub	fruit	spring; fall	Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers
Chrysobalanus icaco	Cocoplum	native	shrub	fruit	summer	Fruit-eating birds
Coccoloba diversifolia	Pigeon Plum	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Robins, Woodpeckers
Coccoloba uvifera	Seagrape	native	shrub; tree	fruit	year-round	Fruit-eating birds
Coccothrinax spp.	Silver palms	native	tree	fruit	summer	Mockingbirds, Blue Jays
Colubrina arborescens	Coffee colubrina	native	tree	flowers	spring	Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Vireos, Flycatchers
Dipholis salicifolia	Willow bustic	native	tree	fruit	summer	Fruit-eating birds
Eriobotrya japonica	Loquat	exotic	tree	fruit	winter	Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Woodpeckers
Eugenia uniflora	Surinam Cherry	exotic	shrub	fruit	spring	Mockingbirds, Waxwings, Orioles
Ficus spp.	Figs	native; exotic	tree	fruit; cover	year-round	Mockingbirds, Catbirds, BlueJays, Waxwings, Woodpeckers, Parrots
Forestiera segregata	Florida Privet	native	shrub	flowers	spring	Warblers, Vireos
Guapira discolor	Blolly	native	shrub; tree	fruit	summer	Fruit-eating birds
Hamelia patens	Firebush	native	shrub	flowers	year-round	Hummingbirds
Ilex cassine	Dahoon Holly	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Waxwings
Juniperus silicicola	Southern Red Cedar	native	shrub; tree	fruit; cover	fall; winter	Tree Swallows, Waxwings, Mockingbirds, Flickers, Sapsuckers
Justicia brandegeana	Shrimp Plant	exotic	shrub	flowers	year-round	Hummingbirds, Orioles, Buntings
Lysiloma spp.	Wild Tamarind	native	tree	flowers	spring; summer	Warblers, Flycatchers, Gnatcatchers
Malpighia glabra	Barbados Cherry	exotic	shrub	fruit	year-round	Fruit-eating birds
Malaviscus arboreus	Turk's Cap	exotic	shrub	flowers	year-round	Hummingbirds, Painted Buntings
Morus rubra	Red Mulberry	native	tree	fruit	spring	Woodpeckers, Kingbirds, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, and other Fruit-eating birds
Murraya paniculata	Orange-jasmine	exotic	shrub	fruit	summer; fall	Mockingbirds, Cardinals
Myrica cerifera	Wax myrtle	native	shrub	fruit	fall; winter	Warblers, Vireos, Tree Swallows, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Catbirds
Myrsine guianensis	Florida Myrsine	native	shrub	fruit	fall; winter	Fruit-eating birds
Parthenocissus cinquefolia	Virginia Creeper	native	vine	fruit	summer; fall	Mockingbirds, Robins, Thrashers, Woodpeckers, Greta-crested Flycatchers
Persea americana	Avocado	exotic	tree	fruit	summer; fall	Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Orioles
Psychotria nervosa	Wild Coffee	native	shrub	fruit	summer; fall	Cardinals, BlueJays
Ptychosperma elegans	Solitaire Palm	exotic	tree	fruit	year-round	Mockingbirds, Blue Jays
Pyracantha coccinea	Firethorn	exotic	shrub	fruit	winter	Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Blue Jays, Waxwings, Woodpeckers
Quercus laurifolia	Laurel Oak	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Warblers, Vireos
Quercus virginiana	Live Oak	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Warblers, Vireos
Roystonea regia	Royal Palm	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Mockingbirds, Robins, Blue Jays
Sabal palmetto	Cabbage Palm	native	tree	fruit	fall; winter	Blackbirds, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Robins
Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry	native	shrub	fruit	summer; fall	Fruit-eating birds
Simarouba glauca	Paradise Tree	native	tree	fruit	spring	Fruit-eating birds
Sophora tomentosa	Necklace Pod	native	shrub	flowers	winter; spring	Hummingbirds, Warblers, Vireos
Tecomaria capensis	Cape Honeysuckle	exotic	vine	flowers	year-round	Hummingbirds, Catbirds, Orioles
Tetrazygia bicolor	Florida Tetrazygia	native	shrub	fruit	spring	Mockingbirds and other Fruit-eating birds
Thrinax spp.	Thatch Palms	native	tree	fruit	fall	Mockingbirds, Jays, and other Fruit-eating birds
Trema micrantha	Florida Trema	native	shrub	fruit	summer	Fruit-eating birds

 

http://www.floridaplants.com/landscape/birds.htm

 

 

 

California Becomes Latest State to Ban Plastic Microbeads

 

 

By RACHEL ABRAMS       OCT. 8, 2015

 

Gov. Jerry Brown of California signed legislation on Thursday that bans plastic microbeads, giving his state one of the country’s strongest laws against the tiny abrasives used in exfoliators and other products.

“We’re obviously incredibly excited,” said Stiv Wilson, director of campaigns at the nonprofit group the Story of Stuff Project. “We just passed a very simple ban on plastic microbeads without any loopholes.”

The consumer products industry had objected to certain aspects of the bill, arguing that it was overly restrictive and did not allow companies to come up with environmentally friendly alternatives. The California rules include a prohibition against biodegradable microbeads, which other states with similar legislation allow.

At least six other states have passed laws restricting microbeads, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland and New Jersey.

Lisa Powers, a spokeswoman for the Personal Care Products Council, said in an email that the industry trade group had taken a neutral position on the bill.

Microbeads look like tiny dots suspended in cleansers and other toiletries. Manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble advertise their exfoliating power, particularly in face and body scrubs.

But when consumers rinse these products off, the microbeads flow from sinks and showers into the water. Billions of microbeads have the same effect as grinding up plastic water bottles and dumping them into the ocean, environmentalists say.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/business/california-bans-plastic-microbeads.html

 

 

 

 

How to Turn Thrift Store Finds into Christmas Gifts: Thrift Store Christmas Gift Ideas

 

Thrift shopping is a great way to save money year-round. You can get children’s clothing cheaply, housewares, and even furniture. Just about anything you need for your home (besides food of course) can be bought at the thrift store. Did you ever consider doing your Christmas shopping there, though? For most people, giving used gifts is a social no-no; however, if you are crafty or just know where to look, you can get incredible thrift store gifts! Here is your guide to turning thrift store finds into Christmas Gifts

Thrift Store Christmas Gift Ideas

Mason Jars- There really are so many things you can do with these thrift shop staples. You can make cookie and brownie mix in jars and tie them with a pretty ribbon and label. You could make some homemade sugar scrubs and place them in the jars as well. Here are 15 Gift in Jar Ideas.

Old Sweaters- I have seen so many tutorials on how to use old sweaters and turn them into anything from mittens to hats. Many of these projects require very little sewing skill and they are so unique and fun! Teens might enjoy getting a new pair of boot liners like these from Scissortail Silk. Old sweaters can also be stuffed and sewn into pet beds for a great gift for our furry friends. Here are more ways to reuse old sweaters.

Clay pots- Many thrift stores have clay or plastic pots from other people’s gardening time. Clean these up, paint them and plant a houseplant in them for a truly wonderful and long living gift.

Tea cups and sugar bowls- One great use for old tea cups, especially the elegant vintage kind, is to make candles out of them. These make awesome gifts that are truly unique. Check out my tutorial on making Tea Cup Candles for inspiration. Here are directions for making Sugar Bowl Candle.

Old Vintage T-shirts- Make a quilt with them. One of my good friends has a quilt made from old T-shirts from her collage days and still loves it. You can also use them to make infinity scarves.

Old Jeans- High-waisted jeans are coming back into style and luckily the thrift store usually has plenty of them. You can create an awesome gift for a teen by covering the pockets with a fabric scrap with a cool design (think leopard print or something similar). Old jeans are also useful for making many other crafts such as purses, wallets and so on.

Framed prints- These are a thrift store lover’s favorite find. You never know what you will get when you hunt through the frames and paintings section. You can turn these into framed chalkboards, paint them white and decoupage family photos onto one.

Trays- Thrift stores are full of all kinds of trays and platters. These can be made into great things such as chalkboards, jewelry plates for rings and bangles and even bird feeders. Just about anyone on your list can be made something from a tray or platter.

What are some of your favorite ways to use thrift store finds and create new things with them? Have you ever given a re-purposed thrift store find as a gift? I would love to hear your creative ideas!

 

http://premeditatedleftovers.com/naturally-frugal-living/thrift-store-christmas-gift-ideas/

 

 

 

 

Friday Funny

 

The Other Coast by Adrian Raeside

 

http://www.gocomics.com/theothercoast/2014/12/22#mutable_1244942

 

 

 

If Trees Could Sing - Preserving Our Trees

 

 

Learn about trees from some well-known artists -  If trees could sing  

 

My favorites:

 

Annie Sellick & the Tulip Poplar

 

Victor Wooten & the Black Walnut

 

Amy Grant and Pecan Trees

 

Kathy Mattea & the Southern Magnolia

 

 

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/tennessee/if-trees-could-sing/index.htm

 

 

 

 

10 Things To Know About The U.N. Climate Talks In Paris

Updated December 1, 2015

 

To listen to this story click  >>>>> 10 Things To Know About The U.N. Climate Talks In Paris

Nell Greenfieldboyce

 

A view of the opening of the 21st session of the conference COP21 on climate change on Monday in Paris, France. More than 150 world leaders are meeting for the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images

 

Leaders from around the world are converging on Paris for the 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference. The two-week event is designed to allow countries the chance to come to an agreement on stifling climate change.

Below are 10 questions and answers that should better prepare you for the conference and what to expect during and after its completion.

Click the audio link at the top of this page to listen to "Heating Up," NPR's special on climate change, hosted by Ari Shapiro. Share it, download it, take it with you.
 

1. What's at stake and why should I care?

It's no exaggeration to say that what happens in Paris will affect the future of the planet. Greenhouse gas emissions keep going up, and scientists say that continuing with business as usual will produce rapid and devastating warming. This won't just be bad news for polar bears and beachfront homeowners. Unchecked warming means that dependable food and water supplies could be disrupted, dangerous pathogens could spread to new areas, and rising seas could remake maps. What's more, extreme weather, plus worse droughts and more fierce wildfires, could become increasingly common. Security experts even worry that scarce and shifting resources could lead to violence.
 

2. What needs to happen to stop climate change?

Many nations want a Paris agreement that will signal a long-term goal of net zero emissions in the second half of this century. That doesn't mean actually producing zero greenhouse gas emissions. But it does mean producing no more than the planet can absorb without raising temperatures. Doing this would mean a dramatic transformation of the world's entire energy system, turning away from fossil fuels to other options like wind, solar and nuclear power. The task is absolutely staggering — but scientists say it can be done, if the political will is there.
 

3. Well, is there really the political will to do all this?

U.N. watchers say the stars are aligned like never before. Before the summit, all countries — rich and poor — were asked to come forward with their own voluntary pledges for how they would aid the global fight against climate change. Over 150 countries have submitted national plans to the U.N., and that in and of itself is a huge deal. Some nations say how they'll cut emissions, while others pledge to do things like preserve forest cover or use more clean energy. Independent experts have calculated that if the world is currently on track for warming of about 4.5 degrees Celsius, these pledges would reduce that to about 2.7 to 3.7 degrees — which is real progress, before the Paris summit even starts.
 

(Left to right) World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, OECD president Angel Gurria, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn attend the Heads of State media event on carbon pricing, as part of the COP21 United Nations conference on Monday. Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images
 

4. What does the Paris agreement really need to have in it?

The goal of Paris is to produce a short, simple agreement — maybe a dozen pages — that will satisfy nearly 200 nations. Here's what some observers think are key elements for a credible, ambitious plan forward:

• Countries need to agree to come back every few years to increase their pledges and keep doing more and more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• The U.N. must have a rigorous system of accountability and transparency to make sure nations will actually keep their promises
• The poorest countries of the world need support to both adapt to a warming world and to adopt new, low-carbon energy technologies

5. There's talk of a 2 degree Celsius warming limit. Will this agreement hit that target?

That target comes from an international consensus five years ago, when nations agreed to limit warming to just about 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times. The thinking was that this would avert the worst effects of climate change. But no one thinks Paris will get the world that far. Instead, the aim of Paris is to come up with an agreement that requires countries to make increasingly ambitious efforts to combat global warming over time, to put the world on track to meet that target in the future.
 

A piece of ice floats in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Mario Tama/Getty Images

6. Rich and poor countries are all part of this thing, but will rich countries have to do more?

There's a lot of tension between the developed world and the developing world when it comes to climate change. Some developing countries such as India say they're in no position to commit to an absolute reduction in greenhouse gases when they're trying to bring economic advancement to millions of people who currently live in poverty. They need a supply of energy, and lots of it. What's more, poorer nations want financial compensation if they're going to agree to do things like preserve rain forests that will suck up carbon dioxide. They note that developed nations chopped down their own trees long ago and have burned enormous amounts of fossil fuels, but now they're being told they can't do the same — so they think the developed world should pay up. So-called "financing" issues will be a major hurdle that negotiators will have to clear in Paris.
 

7. How is the U.N. trying to make this deal happen?

Basically, for two weeks, they're going to sequester a bunch of diplomats in a conference center outside Paris. There's been years of preparation leading up to this conference, and organizers expect tens of thousands of people to gather. Besides the delegates and diplomats there to do the actual wrangling, tons of businesses, activist organizations and scientists will be there as well. While some outside events may be curtailed because of the recent terrorist attacks, the negotiations should go on as scheduled.
 

8. But, hey, hasn't the U.N. been trying to rein in greenhouse gas emissions for two decades?

It's certainly true that past efforts have had serious shortcomings. Top emitters like the United States refused to join the landmark 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and it didn't include any developing countries, like China. Then the 2009 Copenhagen summit ended in a shambles, with a weak agreement thrown together at the last minute by politicians who didn't want to leave the talks with nothing. But things are different this time. The fact that almost all countries have submitted voluntary pledges shows that governments feel pressure to participate. Both the United States and China have taken a leadership role. And major public figures like Pope Francis have been urging action, saying there's a moral duty.
 

9. What are the big fights going on in the negotiations?

Besides arguing over how much rich nations should pay the poor, there are some nations that simply are not excited about a zero carbon future. Oil- and gas-producing countries, for example, aren't so keen to leave their valuable assets in the ground. Another hot-button issue is "loss and damage." That's the idea that there should be some mechanism to compensate the citizens of places that simply cannot adapt to climate change — for example, small island states that could disappear under rising seas.
 

10. What if Paris ends with a whimper?

Scientists say that delaying action is just going to make changes harder and more expensive in the future, and that really the world should have started this transformation decades ago. If reliance on fossil fuels continues and produces unrestrained climate change, experts predict dramatic shifts in our familiar maps and weather patterns. Computer simulations show that New York would have the climate of Miami, and melting ice would flood major cities around the world. Poor countries would be the hardest hit by a changing world, as they have the fewest resources to adapt.

 

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/30/457364450/10-things-to-know-about-the-u-n-climate-talks-in-paris?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2056

 

 

 

 

U.S. to Cut Food Waste in Half by 2030

By Dawn Undurraga, Nutritionist

 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

 

Nearly 40 percent of the food the U.S. produces ends up in the trashcan. From there, it rots in a landfill and pollutes our atmosphere with greenhouse gases. Producing that food takes 300 million barrels of oil a year and 25 percent of our freshwater supply.

 

Yes, you heard that right—in fact, edible food makes up the largest component of our landfills. 

 

That’s the bad news.

 

Here’s the good news: the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency have teamed up and set a goal of reducing food waste by half in the next 15 years.

Who’s responsible for this waste? You might think it’s the grocery stores or restaurants. But they only account for about 10 percent of food waste.

The truth is that people —like you and me— are responsible for nearly 40 percent of the food thrown away. The average American trashes 250 pounds of food a year. But that means this is one instance where our choices can solve the problem.

 

Here are some tips for reducing food waste in your home.

 

• Plan your meals. By spending just 10 minutes a week, you can save more than $2,000 a year. Make it a family affair. It can be fun, too—really!  Sit down and discuss: what are we going to eat this week?  Here’s a link to EWG’s Meal Planner.

• Buy what you can eat—no more. Using a shopping list will help and cut down on impulse buys at the grocery store.  The faster you shop, the less you spend. Here’s a link to EWG’s Shopping List.
   
• Read sell-by and use-by labels, and know what they mean. Many people think they indicate when food is no longer safe to eat, but they don’t. One-fifth of the food thrown away unnecessarily is because of confusion over dates on the label.
   
• Preserve produce in the freezer before it goes bad.  Those beet greens you were planning to toss into a salad but never got around to? The strawberries and bananas that are just a bit mushy and overripe? Wash, chop and lay flat on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and stick it in the freezer.  Once it’s frozen, transfer it to a container for storage.

• Admit it—you’re tired of those leftovers. You’ve served chicken noodle soup three days straight and your family is rebelling. Don’t fret about leftovers; just move them to the freezer. They’ll make a quick meal next week. Freeze, heat and enjoy. 

 

Reduce waste, save money and save the environment. It’s a win-win-win.

 

http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/09/us-cut-food-waste-half-2030