How to Support Declining Bird Populations
Native plants support caterpillars, which are in turn food for baby birds.
Dr. Doug Tallamy (University of Delaware) has taught us the importance of having a variety of high-performing native plants and trees in the landscape. High-performing means they support a large number of caterpillar species, which are in turn food for baby birds.
Caterpillars are phytophagus, which means they eat leaves. Plants don't want their leaves to be eaten, because leaves are their sources of power, converting sunlight into energy. So they load their leaves with complex, energy rich compounds called plant secondary metabolites that are toxic to most plant eating animals.
For example, milkweed contains cardiac glycosides which are toxic to almost all animals, with the exception of the caterpillars of monarch butterflies, which have evolved to eat milkweed leaves without being harmed. This means specialization. Monarch caterpillars are specialized on milkweed. No milkweed, no monarchs.
According to Dr. Tallamy, 90% of phytophagus (leaf eating) insects (such as caterpillars) are specialized. The takeaway is that if you want to support bird populations (most of which which depend on caterpillars), you need a variety of high-performing native plants in your landscape.
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Sounds GREAT. Dean Bryant (my soil mentor) mentioned for plants with Brix level in excess of 12 percent are not prone to insect attack. It's about BALANCE. Yes by all means let me know suitable Aussie plants to attract caterpillars? 😀
That is really INTERESTING re attracting caterpillars for bird food. Most of us want to get rid of the caterpillars ! 😢