Gardeners flock to lecture on birds

Tyler—The sound of chirps and songs might not have filled the room, but birds were the star attraction as the Smith County Master Gardeners wrapped up their Nature in the Garden summer series on Aug. 15.

The evening’s talk, “I’ll Fly Away… Gardening is for the Birds,” was led by Dr. Greg Grant, Smith County horticulture agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. A familiar face to local gardeners, Grant has guided the Master Gardener program for nearly a decade and is known for weaving humor, history, and heartfelt passion into his lectures.

“Most people love birds unless you grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock,” Grant joked. “They’re easy, they’re colorful, they’re free, and they belong here. Birds were here thousands of years before we were, so we [should] look after [them].

“Almost a third of all bird species have disappeared in the last 50 years. We have a major issue with birds disappearing, as well as butterflies and bees,” Grant said. “I talked about birds that have gone extinct in East Texas, including the Carolina parakeet, the passenger pigeon and the ivory billed woodpecker. Grassland birds are [also] in major decline.”

The lecture touched on some of Grant’s favorite birds.

“Personally, I'm fond of primary cavity dwellers, woodpeckers, and then all the secondary cavity dwellers that use woodpecker holes, things like Carolina Chickadees, tit mice, bluebirds, kestrels, owls and wood ducks. A host of species are dependent on woodpeckers,” he said.

The lecture was equal parts science lesson and practical gardening advice. Grant offered simple ways homeowners can help. Providing food, water, and shelter, even in the smallest of yards, can turn a garden into a welcoming habitat.

“I think master gardeners and gardeners in general get focused on the flowers or the fruit on plants. I tend to think of [birds, bees, and butterflies] as ‘flying flowers,’” Grant said. “If you plan your garden properly, you're going to have at least birds, bees, butterflies, blossoms, or fruit any time of the year.”

Grant highlighted bird species that East Texans might see in their own backyards, from colorful bluebirds to industrious woodpeckers. He encouraged gardeners to plant native species that not only look good but also serve as natural food sources.

The lecture capped off this year’s Nature in the Garden series, which explored the theme of “birds, bees, and butterflies.” Each session drew crowds of gardeners, nature lovers, and curious community members eager to learn how to make their backyards more wildlife friendly.

While the summer series has officially taken flight for the season, Grant promised more opportunities are coming. 

“We'll do it again next year, and we might even expand,” he said. 

In the meantime, other lectures are planned. 

“Typically, we have a fall lecture and our library lectures in the spring,” Grant said.

Attendees left the series with gardening tips and a renewed sense of wonder for the winged neighbors just outside their windows.