Judging by the number of birds that use our feeders in winter, we must be the only property-owners in this area putting out food for the birds. We do reduce the number of our bird-feeders in summer, when the seed-eating birds go off to nest elsewhere and there are grubs for the woodpeckers to find, but we feed birds such as jays and crows all year with peanuts and kitchen scraps. There is inadequate food for wildlife because the land around here was completely cleared in the mid-1800's to make farm fields, and the native vegetation has never recovered. Sadly, it would be impossible now to recreate the abundance of the original forest, with its huge numbers of fruiting plants. Some trees, such as chestnuts, elms, and butternuts, can no longer be grown because of introduced diseases. Ash trees are in the firing line thanks to the emerald ash borer beetle, and our native beech is endangered by a canker. On the bright side, as long as we continue to plant fruiting trees and shrubs - no matter where they come from - we will help wildlife.
