Hello everyone!

As hopefully many of you already know, October is Little Forest planting month! This year is another big year, with many young trees going into the ground. Planting has already finished at one of our locations, but there are still a few that are upcoming:

• Today, Thursday, Oct 17 from 1 pm to 7 pm, at 205 Bagot Street. We’re planting 98 trees and shrubs. Call or text Nathan for more info at 343-363-0492.

• Saturday and Sunday, October 19th and 20th, from 9 am to 4 pm, at the corner of Westview and Grenville Roads. We’re planting 1,000 shrubs and trees. Call or text Susie for more info at ‭613-449-4730‬.

Hope to see many of you there!

Thank you to Beacon Design Collective, Green Communities Canada, and Trees for Life for supporting our projects and helping Kingston take another step towards becoming a City in a Forest!

Happy Migratory Bird Day!

Bird migration is one of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena in the world. Birds fly hundreds or thousands of kilometres every year, twice, to find the best ecological conditions for feeding and breeding. Migratory birds in North America typically live in northern regions, like Canada, during the summer months, where they lay their eggs and raise their young, and then travel south to overwinter and avoid the cold weather. Migrations can be short, taking only a few days, or can last several weeks.

The epic quest that is migration can be of mind-boggling proportions, like it is for the Blackpoll Warbler, a little bird weighing only about 12 grams, barely more than a new pencil. Some fly from the maritimes and eastern seaboard, non-stop, to distant locations such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, or Puerto Rico - a distance of about 2,500 kms that they cover in 62 hours of continuous flight time.

World Migratory Bird Day, just like birds’ migrations, happens twice a year, and it serves to celebrate the feat of nature that is migration, but also to raise awareness of the dangers that migratory birds face. As many Little Foresters know, birds are highly dependent on trees for their wellbeing - for food (insects, berries, sap, etc.), nest-building materials, and refuge from predators, among other things. The Little Forests we plant ensure that our avian relatives are happy and healthy, with access to a diversity of vegetation that allows all species to thrive.

But when it comes to migratory birds, one good habitat is not enough. When the leaves fall, the days shorten, and the temperature drops, many of our feathered friends will leave for fairer weather - and move back to their winter habitat. Upon arrival, however, they face a new challenge: those places in Central and South America where the migratory birds reside for the winter months are under threat from unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation. 

Though we may not have much say as Canadians about what happens when the birds have gone south, we do consume products that are being produced in places where bird habitats could be. We can support our avian relatives in our consumption of a particularly popular bean: coffee. At least 42 migrating bird species from North America spend their winters in coffee plantations, and of these, 22 species have declining populations. Rich, ecologically-diverse forests are being cleared to plant sun-grown coffee, a monoculture that offers little for the birds, or to any species. But as consumers, we can do something about this.

Introducing bird-friendly coffee. Coffees grown under the label “bird-friendly” are subject to the Smithsonian Institute’s standards that present several requirements to ensure the coffee is truly grown under ecological conditions that are favourable for birds. These requirements look at things like canopy cover and height, floristic diversity, soil conditions, and even consider the layered nature of forests (which you’ve probably heard of if you’ve spoken to a Little Forester for any extended period of time). You may be able to find bird-friendly coffee in ordinary grocery stores, but you can also get it from companies like Birds and Beans Coffee, who are based right here in Ontario. North Roast Coffee in Kingston also sells bird-friendly coffee, although they haven’t been certified by the Smithsonian due to the costs associated with certification.

If bird-friendly coffee is beyond your price range, buying shade-grown coffee is still a big improvement over sun-grown coffee. You can also check out what different companies are doing for sustainability on the Sustainable Coffee Challenge website, and read about what specific commitments they have made to protecting ecosystems, producers, and the environment. You can also look for certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Rainforest Alliance.

Drinking bird-friendly coffee is a great way to support our feathered friends, and it’s perfect for the winter months when gardening is out and staying home and drinking hot drinks is in.

Birdscaping with Pocket Forests

Now that you’ve learned about one way you can support birds in their winter homes, let’s talk about supporting them where we live! Many of the same principles apply: birds benefit from layered forests with lots of food sources.

Here’s a brochure that Joyce made, showing some tips for making bird-friendly pocket forests. Since birds depend on insects for food, it’s important to leave the leaves, as many critters overwinter in leaf litter. Berries are also an important source of nutrition, so plants that produce them are also great for birds. You can learn more about how to birdscape with Pocket Forests on our website.

Following the simple tips above is a great way to support our avian relatives! Making your yard just that little bit more bird friendly can go a long way, and any effort is worthwhile, no matter how small.

The State of Canada’s Birds

This month, Birds Canada published their analysis on the State of Canada’s Birds, where they discussed the changes in bird populations across Canada. Thanks to increased awareness and extensive conservation efforts (e.g. protection of wetlands), some of these bird species have actually made a recovery, but others have seen marked decreases in their populations, and are in need of our help. Overall, of the 390 bird populations analysed in this report, 166 of them are below their “goal range”, and therefore depend on conservation action to help them recover.

The report shows that migratory birds’ populations had declined more than those that did not migrate, and that those who migrated further were at even greater risk than those that migrated shorter distances. Birds Canada suggests several measures to protect migratory birds, such as choosing bird-friendly coffee, treating windows and advocating for lights out practices to reduce bird strikes, and keeping cats indoors. If you’re like me and already have an outdoor cat, you can consider getting one of these funny collars, which can alert birds of the cat’s approach and help them stay safe.

Along with migratory birds, several other species are facing serious population declines since 1970:

• Shorebirds are under threat due to pollution, development, and recreational activities affecting the edges of wetlands

• Aerial insectivores are at risk due to the decline in insect populations as a result of extensive pesticide use and habitat loss.

• Grassland bird populations are at a critical point, particularly for birds that depend on native grasslands for survival. This is mainly due to grasslands being converted to croplands.

There is a lot of information in the Birds Canada report that I didn’t cover here, including actionable ways of protecting birds. Though the task of protecting Canada’s bird species may seem daunting, there are lots of small things we can all do to make an impact and change things for the better.

We’re now on Instagram! You can find us at instagram.com/littleforestskingston/.