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As the snow melts and trees begin to blossom, birds and other wildlife will return to and emerge in Michigan this spring. While you may enjoy putting out bird feeders to watch the seasonal wildlife, it’s important to keep in mind that birdseed may accidentally attract bears and other wildlife, particularly in the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, where bears are prevalent.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to make your space bird and bear friendly.
Consider putting away bird feeders and incorporating native plants into your yards and gardens this spring – especially in bear territory. Bird feeders provide a convenient, but dangerous, meal for bears. Allowing them to eat from human-provided food sources such as feeders, garbage or outdoor pet foods teaches them bad behavior, which often leads to removing the bears. Instead, planting native species will provide birds with adequate food, water and shelter to get them through the next leg of their migration journeys without attracting bears.
Springtime is a remarkable but precarious time for birds, including long-distance migrants like the scarlet tanager, whose nearly 3,000-mile journey from South America to the Great Lakes is filled with obstacles including violent storms, nonstop flights over open water, predators, lack of food and glass buildings. Our yards, parkways, balconies and porches all can become refuges for migrating birds.
It’s important to understand the different food sources birds rely on. Native plants provide berries and fruits, nectar, and nuts and seeds. The fourth food source is an unlikely one: insects, specifically caterpillars. Caterpillars are supported best by trees and shrubs, like oak, willow and blackhaw viburnam (Viburnum prunifolium). Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is an early spring/summer bloomer that will bring nectar and a pop of color to your space, while supporting Michigan’s smallest migrant, the ruby-throated hummingbird.
To learn more about plant species native to your area, visit Audubon’s Plants for Birds database. Enter your ZIP code to get information on native plants appropriate to your area, local native plant nurseries you can buy from and Audubon chapters that can help.
More tips for how to coexist with black bears can be found at Michigan.gov/Wildlife.
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