Many of the berries birds are eating right now are the best "flight fuel" available. I worked with a research associate at the University of RI some years ago on a study that included Wood Thrush, and we found them eating mainly spicebush berries at this time of year. We cooperated with a food scientist on analyzing the content of these berries, and found them to be on par with olives in terms of fat content, and the type of fat. These fats are rich in "short-chain" fatty acids, which are readily mobilized for energy during migration.

The upshot is, plant more native berries! Another good one this time of year (besides Virginia Creeper and spicebush) is Carolina buckthorn (avoid Common Buckthorn--an invasive exotic). The buckthorn in my front yard is currently being stripped by a mixed group of robins, catbirds, and the local mockingbird.

----Bill Eddleman, Cape Girardeau

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">June

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 8:08 PM

Subject: birds and berries

Yesterday at Bunch Hollow CA (Carroll County) I watched Red-eyed Vireos gobbling down Virginia Creeper berries . I came home and looked for information about REVI's diet and found them on most lists of birds that like those berries. In fact they are popular with at least 35 North American birds, according to some sources. I think I'll consider letting a VC vine grow into one of my large yard trees. In the wooded area behind my house the wild grapes are popular, too, especially with Cardinals and Catbirds, and today a flock of Cedar Waxwings seemed to be eating them.

On Sep 21, 2009, at 7:45 PM, Terry McNeely wrote:

I didn't have time to post yesterday. Daughter's Softball game rained out tonight so time to post.

I went out in the yard early Sunday am and watched several species working in the Gray Dogwood, Rough-leaved Dogwood and Virginia creeper. I observed E. Pheobe and E. Wood-Pewee feeding on the berries of the Dogwoods by what appeared to be flycatching. They would fly out from the interior of the clump, and pick one berry at a time and fly back into the interior. This practice was repeated dozens of times. Enough for me to actually see what they were taking.

Gray Catbirds were working the Virginia creeper. Six of them ate quite a few berries. While watching the Catbirds I noticed a Least Flycatcher enter the feast of Virginia Creeper.

I found this interesting. The different species of Flycatchers eating berries.

Other birds that were feasting on the berries: Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird and Northern Cardinal.

Terry McNeely
25843 Grate Ave
Jameson MO 64647
Daviess County
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