Events

Feeders are fine, but songbirds need more than sunflower seeds to complete their epic journeys. Find out more when Michigan State University ornithologist Jen Owen presents “Health of Migrating Landbirds in the Face of a Changing Landscape: Importance of Native Plants,” at 6:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 18.

Migrating birds make epic flights between their breeding and wintering areas. The success of their migration relies on their ability to find places to stop along their journey where they can rest and replenish their depleted fat stores. Fruits are an important source of nutrition for migrating landbirds each fall as they fatten up for their journey south. However, non-native fruit-bearing shrubs do not offer the same nutritional benefits for birds which has consequences for their migration as well as carry-over effects on bird’s reproductive success and survival.