Achieving 30x30: Percentages Matter, We’re All in This Together, and What You Do to Help Counts Big-time

Green space in the Chicago region (credit:  Chicago Wilderness Alliance ) Did you know that back in December, one of the most important planetary environmental agreements in history got approved in Montreal? This would be the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF), approved by the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which clearly states the goal of protecting, conserving, and restoring 30% of Earth’s lands and waters by 2030. Not only was another opening created for the concept that non-human species have the right to exist and live their lives according to their kind in appropriate habitats, but indigenous peoples were included and given their due as primary keepers of land. If countries actually follow through on commitments (one of the biggest ifs) there might be a chance that biodiversity could start recovering, and we might have a chance of getting to half-earth by 2050. By providing enough habitat for 80% of species on earth, t

Home Ave Hummer Project

About Ruby-throated Hummingbirds  
Anyone who has ever seen one of these cute 3-inch birds hover nearby has probably not forgotten the experience. The ruby-throated hummingbird is native to this part of the Midwest. They winter in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean and fly north in the spring, passing through our area in late April to early May. Males sometimes start back south as soon as July; females follow somewhat later and the juveniles later still, up to the first frost. Hummers tend to return to the same places to feed during their long migrations. They find suitable places to linger by sight, which is why bright red flowers as well as feeders help attract them. (Photograph by Robert Lubeck/Animals Animals—Earth Scenes)

How The Project Began
We, Muriel and Adrian, have been gardening as neighbors for over twenty years and had never seen hummingbirds in our back yards. In 2008 Muriel decided to see if she could attract them. She put out two feeders, and amazingly, a pair showed up during the fall migration period, staying around for several weeks before continuing south. We decided it was in part the feeders, but also because we have many hummingbird attracting flowers in our yards and don’t use insecticides. 
In 2009 we started this project and several neighbors joined, also putting up feeders and planting appropriate flowers. The hummers returned that fall. In 2010 we enlisted even more neighbors and to help make our block a real haven for these beautiful birds. Who knows how many hummingbirds might decide to stop by on their way north or south, or even stick around to build nests and raise young? 2015 update: we've been seeing hummers since early spring and all summer long.

How to Attract Hummingbirds: 
  • When planting shrubs, vines, perennials or annuals, choose at least a few hummingbird-attracting kinds, such as those on the list below. (Hummers especially like tubular red native flowers.) 
  • Put out a hummingbird feeder and keep it filled with sugar water (this requires a certain degree of commitment, since it must be cleaned and refilled weekly). 
  • Don't use insecticides in your yard. Besides pests, they can also be toxic to people, bees, butterflies, and birds. Flowers and feeders attract hummers because, as one source put it, “hummers need nectar to power the bug eating machines that they are.” Most of their diet is soft-bodied insects and spiders. Having hummers around helps improve the balance of nature.
For More Information 
The National Geographic site is informative, as is the Cornell University All About Birds site. To learn more about attracting hummers, go to www.hummingbirds.net  or the kid-friendly www.rubythroat.org. Track hummingbird migration at Hummingbird Journey North. The Hilton Pond Nature Center in the Piedmont region sponsors Operation Rubythroat. A fascinating PBS documentary, Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air, can be seen at PBS: Nature. Related post: Hummingbird Sightings

 Hummingbird-attracting Plants
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Native Vines


Campsis radicans
Trumpet Vine
Sun
Clematis virginiana
Virgin’s Bower
Sun to shade
Lonicera sempivirens
Honeysuckle
Sun
Lonicera x brownii
Honeysuckle
Sun



Native Shrubs


Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea
Sun to part shade
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush
Sun to part shade



Native Understory Tree


Aesculus Pavia
Red Buckeye
Part shade



Native Perennials


Agastache foeniculum
Blue giant Hyssop
Sun to part shade
Agastache rupestris
Licorice Mint
Sun to part shade
Aquilegia canadensis
Columbine
Sun to medium shade
Asclepias incarnata
Marsh Milkweed
Sun
Asclepias syriaca
Common Milkweed
Sun
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Weed
Sun
Geranium maculatum
Wild Geranium
Part sun to shade
Glandularia canadensis
Rose Vervain
Sun to part shade
Liatris aspera
Rough Blazing Star
Sun
Liatris mucronata
Narrow-leaf Gayfeather
Sun
Liatris pycnostachya
Prairie Blazing Star
Sun
Liatris scariosa
Scaly Blazing Star
Sun
Lilium michiganense
Michigan Lily
Sun to part shade
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower
Sun to part shade
Lupinus perennis
Perennial Lupine
Sun
Monarda braburiana
Eastern Beebalm
Sun to part shade
Monarda didyma
Scarlet Beebalm
Sun to part shade
Monarda fistulosa
Wild Bergamot
Sun to part shade
Penstemon cobaea var. purpureus
Showy Beardtongue
Sun to part shade
Penstemon digitalis
Foxglove
Sun to part shade
Penstemon pallidus
Pale beardtongue
Sun to part shade
Penstemon tubaeflorus
Tubed Beardtongue
Sun to part shade
Phlox divaricata,
Woodland Phlox
Sun to shade
Phlox paniculata
Garden Phlox
Sun to part shade
Physostegia virginiana
Obedient Plant
Sun to part shade
Salvia azurea
Pitcher Sage
Sun
Silene regia
Royal Catchfly
Sun
Silene virginica
Fire Pink
Part shade
Silphium perfoliatum
Cup Plant
Sun
Spigelia marilandica
Indian Pink
Part shade



Native Annuals


Canna indica
Native Canna
Sun
Castilleja coccinea
Scarlet Indian Paintbrush
Sun
Castilleja indivisa
Texas Indian Paintbrush
Sun

Phaseolus coccineu

Scarlet Runner Bean
Sun
Monarda citriodora
Lemon Horsemint
Sun
Nicotiana mutabilis
Flowering Tobacco
Sun
Phlox drummondii
Annual Phlox
Sun
Salvia sp.
Annual Sages
Sun



Non-native Perennials


Hosta


Lavandula
Lavendar
Sun
Liliam sp.
Lilies
Sun



Non-native Annuals


Any tubular red-to-purple flowers such as petunias, impatiens, salvias, fuschia, four o’clocks, geraniums