,,, or any other native fall-ripening berry plant. In autumn, many species of birds switch from an insect rich diet to including more ‘fruits and vegetables’.
For year-round residents and partial, short-haul migrants this switch provides fats, amino acids, and antioxidants that help them recover from molting and prepare for winter. For the long-haul migrants, they need the same nourishment, plus the extra calories, but their immediate need is to make it across the Gulf of Mexico to their fruit-rich tropic wintering grounds.
The timing of fruit and berry ripening and migration is being strained by Climate Change changes to ecosystems. A great way for us everyday people to help combat these changes and their threats to birds is to plant a variety of fall-ripening fruits and berries in our yards.
