Subject: [Tweeters] Himalayan Blackberries
Date: Sat Aug 16 10:28:48 PDT 2025
From: Diann MacRae via Tweeters - tweeters at u.washington.edu

Hi, Steve




This has been a good thread on native vs other plants, etc. My question is in re to your recent comment below - Can't chickadees and others get moth caterpillars elsewhere or is that just in our area? I know bluebirds also rely on caterpillars to feed young.




Cheers, Diann






Good point on the insects, but let's add that native trees are critical. Chickadees and others need over 6,000 moth caterpillars to fledge a nest of chicks, and they only get those from native willows, alders, bitter cherries, etc.