The shady side of coffee growing is good for the birds

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 14 October 2010 09:42

Most people — even many birders — don’t realize that drinking the right kind of coffee can help many of our songbirds.

Coffee is either grown under full sun or in the shade of trees. Sun-grown coffee is cheaper and higher-yield, but usually occupies ground that was once forest and itself provides little habitat for birds. Growing coffee under the shade of large trees is not as efficient and costs more, but the product is said to taste better — and provides winter habitats for our migratory songbirds.

Companies like Birds & Beans produce bird-friendly, shade-grown coffees that have gained the official endorsement of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

Smithsonian reports that “in study after study, shade-grown coffee farms outshone sun-grown coffee farms with increased numbers and species of birds as well as an improved bird habitat, soil protection/erosion control, carbon sequestration, natural pest control, and improved pollination. While sun-grown systems can have higher yields, the shaded farms easily outperform them in sustainability measurements with the trees providing an array of ecological services that offer both direct and indirect ‘income/pay-back’ to farmers and the environment.”

Coffee plantations in southern Mexico’s state of Chiapas, for example, offer habitat for 180 species of birds — 46 migratory, “a richness rivaled only by natural forest habitats in the region,” Smithsonian said.

“Strong scientific evidence proves that farms with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center’s certification make a major difference for birds by preserving tropical habitat at a time when so many forests are under attack and industrial, mono-culture sun coffee farming is expanding,” Birds and Beans says. “We want to make sure that people who care can get great coffee that is good for bird conservation, family farmers and the environment.”

A leading spokesmen for shade-grown coffees is Audubon field editor Kenn Kaufman, who’s coming to the area this Saturday, Oct. 16.

Mr. Kaufman is editor of a series of field guides bearing his name that includes volumes on birds, butterflies, mammals, and insects. His other books include Lives of North American Birds, and Advanced Birding.

Mr. Kaufman, a collaborator with the Birds & Beans, has been promoting this kind of coffee for a while and has been surprised that these coffees have not caught on.

“A few of us birders are passionate about the issue, but haven’t been able to communicate the importance of drinking ‘Bird Friendly’ coffee,” he said. “I’m enthusiastic about ‘Birds & Beans’ because I think this could be the initiative that actually connects the dots and makes something happen. And it gives me a chance to work with great people on a worthwhile project; I feel blessed to be involved.”

From noon to 2, he will be doing a brief talk, a Q&A, and book signing at Wild Birds Unlimited, 532 North Bedford Road, in Bedford Hills (bedfordhills.wbu.com).

From 6 to 9, he will be at Greenwich Audubon, signing books at a 6 p.m., reception and speaking at 7:30. To RSVP, contact Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239.

Killdeer

Mike Mottolese of New Canaan “saw at least 30 Killdeer on the front lawn at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan while waiting to pick up my daughter on Wednesday afternoon. They were foraging in the grass and took off en masse when anyone got too close.”  They were no doubt heading south.

Late hummer

Claire Gladstone of Ridgefield reports that,  “Lying in bed on Sept. 29, I thought I heard a strange low-flying plane. As I lifted my head and began to wake up, I turned and looked out the open window. It wasn’t a plane at all, it was a hummingbird! He was working his way through all the flowers in the window box. That is the latest I can remember having a hummingbird at my house in a long time!”

Claire also reports seeing many Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at her home along the Titicus River. The sapsuckers are on the way south while the kinglets may be doing the same — or arriving to spend the winter after summering up in Canada.

Coming up

Autumn Birding Series, trips and talks with Luke Tiller: “Little Brown Jobs” lecture (Oct. 21) and trip to Allen’s Meadows (Oct. 24); talk Thursday at 7 p.m.,  trip at 7:30 am;   $15; RSVP to store: 203-869-5272 x221 Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org

Autumn Morning Bird Walks: Saturdays, Oct. 16, 23, 30 free, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org, 203-869-5272 x221.

“Breakfast With the Hawks” with   Arthur W. Green and   Adam Zorn, Sunday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m., Bedford Audubon at Chestnut Ridge Hawk Watch, Arthur Butler Sanctuary, 261 Chestnut Ridge Road, Bedford Corners, register at 914-666-8448 bedfordaudubon.org

Woodpecker Walk, with Ted Gilman, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2 to 3:30, Audubon Greenwich , 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org, 203-869-5272  x221

Bird Walk at Croton Point Park, on Hudson River, with Tait Johansson, Saturday, Oct. 23, 7:30 a.m. to 11:15, Bedford Audubon, register with   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 914-232-4806, bedfordaudubon.org

Fall Sparrows and More, field trip to Marshlands Sanctuary in Rye, Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m., Saw Mill River Audubon, register at 914-666-6503 or email us in advance to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Project FeederWatch, how to be a citizen scientist with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Saturday, Nov. 13, 1 to 2:30, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org, 203-869-5272  x230

Hackensack Meadows / Richard W. DeKorte Park field trip, harriers, kestrels, winter sparrows, waterfowl, Saturday, Nov. 27, 7 a.m., Saw Mill River Audubon, register at 914-666-6503 or email us in advance to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copyright 2010 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.