In South Africa, we take for granted the flurry of chattering birds that marks the beginning of a new day. Whenever I visit the USA, the early morning silence always alarms me. While most people enjoy the peace and quiet, the lack of bird life in the U.S. is actually a warning. Most Americans don't know what they're missing, because they've grown accustomed to the quiet mornings, assuming that's normal. There are some nice things about life in America, but this is one path that the rest of the world must not follow. One of the reasons for the lack of wildlife in the U.S. is the urban growth without any regard to preserving and planting the native plant life. As University of Delaware professor Douglas Tallamy writes in his book, Bringing Nature Home, "We were taught from childhood that gardens are for beauty; they are a chance to express our artistic talents, to have fun with and relax in. And, whether we like it or not, the way we landscape our properties is taken by our neighbors as a statement of our wealth and social status. But no one has taught us that we have forced the plants and animals that evolved in North America (our nation's biodiversity) to depend more and more on human-dominated landscapes for their continued existence." He goes on to explain, "Since we have taken 95% of the U.S. from nature we can expect to lose 95% of the species that once lived here unless we learn how to share our living, working, and agricultural spaces with biodiversity." His solution is quite simple: fill your garden with only native plants wherever possible.Ever since I returned to South Africa, I've been drawn to the local native or indigenous plants. As a result, other than some herbs, I have managed to populate our garden with indigenous trees and shrubs, and I've seen first-hand the benefits of these plants. I see more wildlife at home in just a few minutes than I did on a recent visit to a so-called wildlife refuge in the U.S last year. Last week, we planted 28 young indigenous trees along a road next our estate, providing homes to countless insects and animals, while also improving the atmosphere of our corner of this concrete jungle. Planting indigenous trees, as Tallamy has found in his research, supports 29 times more biodiversity than exotic trees.
For most people, preserving the environment is not a priority, as simply making ends meet takes up all their time and energy. However, to insure a bright future for those that follow us, it should be a priority. As Dr. Guy McPherson says, "If you think the economy is more important than the environment, try holding your breath while you count your money." I encourage you to visit some of our indigenous nurseries and botanical gardens, which I've linked below, so you can see that these plants are not only beautiful but useful as well. The health of our environment, our animal friends, and ourselves is dependent on the plant life we choose, so choose carefully.
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The following short videos, taken just before sunrise, show the stark contrast in bird sounds from Centurion, South Africa in the first one and Florida, USA in the second ( be sure to increase your speaker volume):
Incidentally, the faint sounds you hear in the second one are actually some sort of insect. Both were captured last year in September, about 3 days apart. What is even more alarming is that the one taken in the USA was about 100 metres away from a pristine lake, where you would normally find abundant bird life. The sounds you hear in the first are a typical morning in suburban South Africa. We must do our best to keep it this way.
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For more information:
http://www.bringingnaturehome.net/gardening-for-life.html
http://www.willowfeather.co.za/
http://growwild.co.za/
http://witkoppenwildflower.co.za/
http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/pretoria
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