Trees are earth’s natural air filter and help to purify the air and give us the oxygen we need. Every region has its own “natural- vegetation with different flora which attracts different fauna, like birds, bees, butterfly, birds and other wildlife too. In this ever shrinking world of ours, wildlife need our helping hands.
As a community what have we done to our planet, we have stripped, poisoned and trained our planet, like a commodity.
If we know and understand what to plant, for creating a biodiversity by planting more native tress. We succeed in attracting more birds, bees, butterflies and bats
Large trees attract several birds, bees, butterflies and bats etc., they offer food and protection, shelter and a place to raise their family.
These green giants(trees), offer birds a place to nest and to protect from predators. Trees also attract birds and bees for their food and Mast.
These bees, butterflies, bats and birds get the food also from the flowers, buds, fruits and nectar. Mast is seeds, fruits and nuts they provide as food.
Studies show native insects rarely eat non- native plants. They don’t have the enzymes required to digest the leaves of exotics. Urban landscape filled with exotic trees doesn’t attract native birds, insects and other wildlife.
When invasive aliens obliterate native plants, insects and other wildlife lose. When invasive aliens obliterate native plants, insects and other wildlife lose their food source and their numbers drop. When native foods decline so do the wildlife.
Here are few of the common native trees which are very helpful for birds, bees, butterfly and bats.
Jamun tree- Syzgium cu min: An evergreen tropical tree attracts large number of bees, butterflies, bats and birds during its flowering and fruiting season.
Mahua tree- Illupai-Madhuca longifolia: A tropical fast growing tree, which attracts birds and blooms at night. It provides an excellent roosting site for birds.
Neem tree- A zadirachta indka: Popularly known as the healing tree, it attracts birds of various species like common myna, yellow vented bulbul etc. Its branches provide a good nesting site for birds.
Mango tree- Mangifiera Indica: Mango trees in full bloom stage attract bees, butterflies and nectar feeding birds. When fruits ripe in summer it attracts parrots, cuckoos and golden orioles.
Bulletwood tree- Mimusops Elangi: Medium size evergreen tree commonly called as Mahilam is known for its fragrance of flowers, butterflies. The ripe fruit attracts birds, bats and squirrels.
Singapore Cherry- Munting is Calabria: It is planted for the soft wood and also in the bee keeping industry for its flowers is rich in nectar and pollen.
Trees flowers are a critical source of forage for bees, providing nutrient rich pollen for food and nectar bees use for food and to make honey. Also they are good sources of food for pollinators.
