Good points and discussion going on the native plants/birds issue, and I
very much appreciate all the input.

I live in Ocean Shores, on what is called an "inner lot". I am completely
surrounded by willow, myrtle, salal, coast pine, hemlock and Sitka spruce,
so I have a good diversity of native birds to watch, and seldom see a house
sparrow...though the starlings DO raid my feeders from time to time.

My "grass" is whatever grows, and is mostly dandelions and non-lawn (as
defined by city people), and is limited to whatever will grow atop my
personal bane....red-rock. A layer of red-rock was laid over the
sand-that-passes-for-soil-out-here by previous owners, possibly to prevent
the native plants from invading (?).

I do have a single hawthorn, and it is highly sought-after by the
birds...and the crows usually win...so I will plant more of those. But out
back is a steadily-growing pile of Himalayan blackberry, only there because
I am dreading the job of removing it...and won't resort to poisons.

After reading Allyn's fine post, though, I believe I will begin the daunting
task of removal...long-handled clippers, heavy gloves, long-sleeved leather
jacket, neo-sporin, bandages......

Dianna Moore
Ocean Shores, Wa.
dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com