This European honeybee recognizes an old ancestral friend: The Black Knapweed, which is also European. Aka Centaurea nigra (I wonder if I shoulda capitalized ‘nigra’ in recognition of these ignorant days), it ranks very high on, both, nectar and pollen production, making it a superstar of the plant world for pollinators (usually flowers are only good at one or the other).
What’s this!? A native bird using a non-native plant?! Oh no!!
So, here’s the deal…the Feds are being sued for destroying habitat in Arizona where an endangered migratory bird procreates. In this case, ‘habitat’ is a euphemism for the Saltcedar. Backstory: the USDA experimentally released a non-native beetle out west in 2001 and ramped up distribution of the insect in 2005, all for the purpose of eating this non-native tamarix that, coincidentally, the bird builds its nest in.
NPNs hate non-natives because they have deluded themselves into thinking that the plants are replacing native ones. But, it’s hard to replace something that was already extirpated due to land overuse. Luckily for this endangered bird, the tamarix exists; can grow under rotten conditions; and provide a home for avian reproductive activities.
Do you know why people really want to do away with this plant? It steals water from them! I am not making this up. This naturalized plant grows along streams like many native and non-native plants are want to do out there, except, according to alarmists, this is the only plant sucking the streams dry. Wow. Only an NPN scientists can come up with a scarenario such as this.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “People rationalize their perceived need for butterfly bush because they think it helps butterflies,” Tallamy said. “What they really want is a pretty plant in their yard.”
Getting back to Doug Tallamy’s quote (and some parallel construction) , for years he has been trying to get people to “rationalize their perceived need for” a native plant “because they think it helps” chickadees. I wonder if he ever listens to himself. It’s the reason we think politicians are horrible people. They tell you that what you are doing is wrong while they do the exact same thing. BTW, you can plant tons of native plants (like Tallamy wants), but (he never mentions this part) they must be trees. If they aren’t…guess what?….no chickadees. To get these birds, you’ll need, in addition to multiple mature trees, a special bird house…and don’t forget bird feeders to really ramp-up chickadee interest and staying power.
A Blue Ridge PRISM (BRP) promoter made an appearance on PBS in 2020, stating WRT the Bradford Pear, “It’s contributing nothing to our ecosystem.” As my dad (RIP) might have said, “What a ninny!” Even the BRP guy’s site references pollinators and birds partaking of this plant. However, the BRP site is so deceitful that they never mention any bird by name other than European Starlings as eating the fruit. It’s a twofer for the purpose of doubling your hate and angst: non-native bird spreading non-native plant. The fact is that plenty of native birds eat these fruits, but, you know…let’s not mention them because people may decide not to cut down their Bradfords. Lesson: People will say (or omit) absolutely anything to further their agendas…not that you didn’t already know that.
Ambassador of Ent and NPN fave Doug Tallamy has a poor opinion of the native Tulip Poplar because it does not host enough leaf-eating insects. This is what happens when one’s ecological world view is so razor thin that they can’t see the forest for the leaf-eating larvae. For more, see the “corruption is here” page.