The Home Page Network

Photo by John Eaton
Ann Vayansky is pictured with sneezeweed in the Nature Center’s garden at Hills Creek State Park. On Sept. 25, she will talk about plants, such as sneezeweed, that are attractive to birds. Contrary to its name, sneezeweed does not cause people to sneeze.

The Tiadaghton Audubon Society is hosting a free program open to the public titled “Encouraging Birds to Your Backyard.” It will be held rain or shine.

Ann Vayansky is presenting the program at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 outdoors at the Nature Center at Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road, Wellsboro, Pa. 16901, seven miles northeast of Wellsboro in Charleston Township via Charleston Street and Hills Creek Lake Road.

If it rains, the program will be in the Nature Center pavilion.

Most people develop an interest in birds from seeing them close around them and often ask birders how they can attract birds to their yards. The first answer they are usually given is feeders and birdhouses, water and trees.

But, it makes a big difference to birds and other wildlife just what trees, shrubs and other plants people have in their backyards. Recently, when a mysterious virus infected large numbers of songbirds and people were advised not to feed them, natural food became even more important.

Hills Creek has a garden of native plants at its Nature Center. Vayansky will talk about the merits of some of the plants in this garden and the importance of people incorporating them and others into their landscaping to encourage birds and other wildlife to visit.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800