Creating Landscapes for Bird Diversity

Our landscapes have a tremendous impact on bird diversity, and with so many native bird populations in steep decline, understanding their needs is more important than ever. With her urban garden as a case study, Claudia Thompson will explore the essential principles for creating avian-friendly landscapes for a wide variety of land-bird species— from songbirds, to owls, woodpeckers, and more.

Native plants provide the foundation, with healthy flora-fauna relationships that are essential for food and habitat. Also important is the structure of the landscape itself, so that if offers varied canopy layers, protective cover, and water. Finally, she will consider the pros and cons of our human interactions with birds, using birdfeeders and nest boxes, and through the design of our built environment. Every landscape matters, and each of us can make a difference!

Ms. Thompson founded Grow Native Massachusetts in 2010 and served as the organization’s President and Executive Director through its first decade. Her work as a landscape ecologist is also deeply informed by her personal experience over three decades, transforming her relatively small urban garden into rich habitat where she documented more than 80 species of birds. Her lifelong career in the environmental sector has included other notable roles, serving as Director of Education for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Director of Drumlin Farm for Mass Audubon, and on the board of the New England Wild Flower Society.

Claudia provided us with the following helpful document, which presents eleven key points from her webinar and suggested resources:
https://grownativemass.org/sites/defa...

As we do gardening and work on behalf of nature this spring, let’s remember the words of the quote by Barbara Mikulski that Claudia shared with us, "Each of us can make a difference. Together, we can make change."

This webinar was originally presented live on March 14, 2024 as part of the Newton Conservators 2024 Spring Webinar Series hosted by Beth Wilkinson. Barbara Bates provided technical assistance and Ted Kuklinski handled video editing. Thanks to Friends of Cold Spring Park, Green Newton, and Newton Tree Conservancy for cosponsoring this webinar.