Date:         Fri, 24 Mar 2000 21:43:45 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         rob gibbs <robgibbs@DIGIZEN.NET>
Subject:      Re: birds and deadly-nightshade berries
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I agree with earlier responses to your inquiry about the value of nightsh=
ade
to local birds.  I would add that at this time of year berries are in sho=
rt
supply and we can still get significant cold spells.  These last lingerin=
g
berries, even if they are not preferred foods, can make the difference
between making it through a cold night or not, especially for a migrant
species.  Paula's point about exotic invasives cannot be over emphisized.
This species is an exotic but is not too terribly invasive so I'd leave i=
t
till the cold weather is gone for good.  You may want to dig it out after=
 the
weather warms and replace it with a native berry producer.

You asked about a source of info on bird foods.  There is a great referen=
ce
on this subject that I'm sure is available at the library, it is called
"American Wildlife & Plants - A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits".  The firs=
t
half of the book is organized by species of wildlife (nearly all N.A. spe=
cies
of bird are covered) and lists for each the percentages of different food=
s in
their diets by season and specific plants that make up significant parts =
of
their diet.  The second half of the book is organized by species of plant=
s
and lists for each the species of wildlife that utilize that plant for a
significant portion of their diet.  Plants are given a numeric code to
reflect their overall importance as a wildlife food source.  It is an
absolutely fascinating book to leaf through. It's published by Dover Pres=
s
and is dirt cheap if you can find it for sale.

According to this source nightshades (two common species in the NE) are u=
sed
sparingly by Cardinals, Catbirds, Swamp sparrows and gray-cheeked thrushe=
s.

--
Rob Gibbs, Wildlife Ecologist
Montgomery County Parks

=========================================================================
To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com
with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey
=========================================================================
===========================================================================