North Shore Audubon Society Wins Native Plant Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Shore Audubon Society Wins Native Plant Grant

Nassau County (March 20, 2018)—North Shore Audubon Society (NSAS) announced today that it has won a grant from the National Audubon Society’s Coleman and Susan Burke Center for Native Plants to implement a discounted native plant sale. The grant application process was highly competitive and NSAS was one of 35 awardees out of 89 applications.

The Coleman and Susan Burke Center for Native Plants was established to promote the use of native plants that benefit birds in human communities. The center provides small grants to support Audubon network Plants for Birds activities to increase the visibility, reach, and impact of Audubon’s Plants for Birds programming across the country.

By growing native plants, you can also help protect birds while turning your home into a private wildlife paradise. While many adult birds eat seeds and fruit, 96% of birds feed insects and spiders to their young. A single nest of chickadee babies may scarf down as many as 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. “Native tree species are better for birds because they host many more caterpillars; native oaks support more than 550 kinds of butterflies and moths. Non-native Ginkgo trees? Only five.” said Dr. John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation at National Audubon Society and Plants for Birds program director. “Most landscaping plants available in nurseries are exotic species from other countries. Many are prized for qualities that make them poor food sources for wildlife.”

To help bring more native plants to local gardens, North Shore Audubon will be holding a native plant sale on May 5 at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove. For every $25 preordered for the plant sale, $5 will be deducted, paid for from the grant. Buyers need to print the order form from the home page of the web site, northshoreaudubon.org or garviespointmuseum.com. Prepaid orders received by April 10 will get the discount. All prepaid orders must be received by April 15. Preordered plants will be picked up on May 5 at Garvies Museum and Preserve. Additional native plants will be available on May 5 to purchase without prepaying. “If anyone needs help choosing plants, the NSAS website has photos and descriptions of native plants and also you can contact us at nsaudubonsociety@gmail.com,” said Peggy Maslow, NSAS President “or come to our member meeting on March 27 at the Manhasset Public Library to get a form and advice.”

Gardens are sanctuaries for birds, insects and other wildlife. Every spring, migrating birds visit our yards looking for nourishment and places to raise their young. Adding native plants to your yard, balcony, container garden, rooftop or public space, will not only attract more birds but give them the best chance of survival in the face of climate change and urban development. Through Audubon’s Plants for Birds public online database, anyone nationwide can access a list of native plants that benefit their favorite local bird species, by just typing in their zip code. For extra bird-friendly home tips, gardening DIY’s, and more, visit audubon.org/plantsforbirds. or northshoreaudubon.org

Contact: Peggy Maslow, President North Shore Audubon Society

nsaudubonsociety@gmail.com or pmaslows@gmail.com

Photo Caption: American Goldfinch feasts on Coneflower seeds

Photographer: Will Stuart