Below is an excerpt from my blog, Letter from Birdland. ← This is a  hyperlink that sends your reader to another web page. However, you can also use them to send your reader to another spot on your own page, sort of like a footnote. ← Select this link for further info about this.

Letter from Birdland: An Archival Prairie

I wrote last week that I’d tell you more about my conversation with John Marlin, the curator of the prairie in front of the Archives Research Center,

Prairie in front of the Student Life Archives

and ever since our conversation, I’ve noticed more and more little pockets of prairie on campus, for example, the little yard in front of the Campus Honors Program house is abloom with coneflowers, both yellow and purple.

Yellow Coneflower at the Prairie Restoration Project.

It reminds me of another of John’s points, that every little bit helps. With our modern ideas of landscaping, we have created large areas, especially in the newer subdivisions, with no native plants, the equivalent of a desert for native insects. Sure, a yard may have blossoms, but if they’re not native, these blooms may not be edible for many native species. Some are even toxic. For example, most insects can’t eat milkweed, but Milkweed is the only plant Monarch caterpillars can eat. John reminds us that our native insects have evolved in tandem with native plants for millions of years, and are now interdependent. The plants depend on the pollinators for reproduction; the pollinators depend on the plants for food. Why is this important? Well, even people who are not fond of insects for themselves might enjoy birdsong. John pointed out that over 90% of bird species need insect larvae to feed their young. By replacing native plants with non-native cultivars, we are systematically reducing the amount of insect larvae available. Reducing habitat can reduce insect populations, which can in turn affect bird populations.

(You can go to my blog to read the rest of the entry.)