Keeping Common Birds Common

Among the catkins and newly-opened leaves of an oak (Quercus sp.), a male Northern Yellow Warbler sings his bright song that sounds like “sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet”. Soon he will attract a mate and start nesting nearby, and that’s when the oak becomes important.

Native oaks are among the most beneficial trees for birds, hosting hundreds of caterpillar species which form a vital protein source for the Northern Yellow Warbler and numerous other insectivore birds when raising their young. Oaks also provide nutritious acorns that feed jays, turkeys, woodpeckers and waterfowl, as well as shelter and nest sites.