By Robin Y. Rivet, for Let’s Talk Plants! June 2024.
(Two Tree Swallows Calling. Attribution: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
What do trees have to do with birds?
Birds depend on trees to perch, eat, hide, and acquire nesting materials. They construct nests in and around trees, and aid in dispersing their seeds. San Diego County is a biodiversity hotspot, especially when tallying its amazing bird life. If you haven’t paused to appreciate local birds or understand their symbiosis with urban trees, it’s worth investing some of your time.
(Great Blue Heron carrying large tree twig for nesting. Attribution: PhotoBobil, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Like wind rustling through tree leaves, motion from wildlife adds a dynamic element to static landscaping - no need to buy whirligigs. Songbirds will deliver melodic sounds while many species supply natural pest control for home gardens. With a heartbeat ~1,260 times a minute, hummingbirds can consume 1000’s of insects and larva a day, while large raptors hunt for rodents. Birds will even help clean up messy invasive pests.
(Northern Mockingbird plucking winter berries Attribution: Matt MacGillivray from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
What types of trees attract birds best?
· Trees with drupes and berries (camphor, Elaeagnus spp., olive, mulberry)
· Trees rich with nectar (bottlebrush, locust, acacia, coral, eucalyptus, Iochroma, silk oak)
· Trees with nuts and seeds (oaks, redbuds, willows, alder, most conifers)
· Evergreen foliage provides shelter from weather and predators
· Insect pests supply necessary protein (scale, aphids, larva, psyllids, ants - even mosquitos)
· Fuzzy foliage and fluffy seeds cushion nests (sycamore, floss silk, cottonwood, cotton, ice-cream bean)
· Twigs and leaves stabilize nests
· Raptors embrace tall trees, and many species lookout from tree tips
· Older trees can develop inviting nesting cavities
· Rainfall droplets intercepted on bark, leaves or flowers serves up precious water to drink
(Cooper’s Hawks Feed Nesting Young in Eucalyptus. Attribution: Channel City Camera Club from Santa Barbara, US, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Hawks and owls might seem threatening, but they dine on endless supplies of urban rats, gophers and annoying rabbits – especially if you have an open area and a high treetop for looking down. Locally, many eucalypts, melaleucas, pines and cedars can be choice skyline species. Cook pines, Araucaria spp., grow into impressively tall but narrow specimens, ideal for tight urban spaces, while towering palm trees lure nesting orioles.
(American Robin Nibbling Autumn Fruit. Attribution: Mathieu Landretti, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Dissuading birds from pecking all your orchard fruit can be minimized by layering gardens with bird-friendly seed and fruit-producing shrubby-trees. California natives like blue elderberry, toyon, Catalina cherry, summer holly, coffeeberry and Dr. Hurd manzanita serve up exciting bird-food. Attractive ornamentals like Strawberry tree, fringe tree, Harlequin glorybower, yaupon (a self-fruitful holly), common myrtle, cherry laurel, pyracantha, and Lilly-pilly fruits all have tasty berries appealing to a wide range of local species. Along with extremely showy flowers, Mickey-mouse plant also has seeds that are irresistible to birds.
(Western Tanager perched on deciduous California tree. Attribution: Shravans14, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Large trees become magnets for birds, especially evergreens for year-round cover. And you can hang nesting boxes from their boughs.
(Acorn Woodpecker Behavior in Trees. Attribution embedded.)
Older oaks, peppers, sycamores and pines frequently have cavities that will attract woodpeckers, tree swallows, bluebirds and nuthatches, while house wrens flock to man-made birdhouses.
(Anna Hummingbird Sips Nectar from Coral Tree Attribution: Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Hummingbirds are amongst the easiest local birds to recognize, and getting to know their habits and habitats will literally make your trees buzz with activity. As an arborist, I am proud my profession is voicing concern for maintaining healthy trees and bird life. Do your part and keep your trees growing with minimal harm, although oozing sap from pruning wounds may lure “sapsuckers”.
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