Feathered friends of the Wimberley Valley

Recently, I attended a seminar offered by the Wimberley Birding Society and other sponsors.

I am a casual bird watcher, enjoying what I see out the window of what I call my bird room, but at the seminar, I learned a host of important information. Did you know that bird health is an indicator of overall species health? That includes the species of which we are members.

Since 1970, we have lost approximately three million birds or 30% of our feathered friends. For some species, the decline is closer to 70%. Reasons for this startling decline include habitat loss, invasive species and predation by domestic cats.

Birds are a vital member of the food chain, and we need them to keep our ecosystem running smoothly. They make our lives better by eating insects (400-500 tons per year), dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and keeping the rodent population in check.

The needs of birds are very much like our own needs. All they need to thrive is food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. In our own backyards we can provide these needs — bird seed and native plants for food, water features, plant layers for shelter and nesting boxes.

Following the seminar, a friend who also attended sent me an interesting article. It turns out that just hearing birdsong can be good for mental wellbeing. Research shows that interaction with nature benefits both body and brain health. Birds are everywhere and, even if they are out of sight in a tree or bush, we benefit from hearing their song So, open a window when you enjoy your first cup of coffee, take an early morning walk without your earbuds or visit our own Patsy Glenn Refuge.

To learn more about the Wimberley Birding Society visit wimbirds.org.