Breeding Bird Awareness During the Spring Work Season

While flora are the direct focus of most habitat restoration work, fauna is also greatly affected one way or another.

Cup nesting songbirds, which nest low to the ground, like the Dark Eyed Junco nest seen in this photo, are among the most vulnerable to both predators and well-intentioned habitat stewards alike.

Habitat stewards can decrease their impact to nesting birds by doing the following:

1. In areas where nesting is likely, do as much as weeding as possible as early in the season as possible. The most disruptive work should happen between September and February to avoid disturbing breeding practices.

2. Learn the birds present and likely to occur in your work area.

3. Migratory cup nesting songbirds are among the most imperiled birds and most of their nests are either on or near the ground (1-2ft.)

4. Look for behaviors including: Distraction displays, scolding and distress calls when work is closing in on an active nest.

5. Work to create a varied composition and structural diversity within the vegetation, which was most effectively helps birds hide their nest. Impenetrable spots in deep shade are not good nesting areas; cup nesting songbirds ideally have at least dappled, filtered sunlight to warm and hide the nest.

Keep in mind more nests are associated with California blackberry than any other single plant. And cumulatively elderberry, which provide fruit during the breeding season, are the most important fruit source to songbirds in North America.