Not every tree in Ecopark Vaya was planted for people. In 2016 fruit trees – apples, pears, mulberries and plums – were planted on the site with a single purpose: to feed the birds.
The trees were chosen with care. We opted for local, non-hybrid varieties – the old Bulgarian fruit trees that grew for generations in yards and along field boundaries without spraying or special care. They are resistant to disease and to the local climate, and their fruit has been familiar to birds for centuries. Modern hybrid varieties are bred for human needs – large, sweet, long-lasting fruit – not for the needs of nature.
Each of these trees has its role during the year. Mulberries ripen in early summer, exactly when birds are raising their young and most need easily accessible food. Apples and pears bear fruit in autumn, and the fallen, overwintered fruit feeds blackbirds, thrushes and starlings through the cold months. Plums attract insects, which in turn are food for insect-eating birds. In spring the blossom of all the fruit trees is forage for bees and other pollinators.
The orchard plots are intended as a quiet place for the birds, not as a visitor attraction. That is why during the breeding season – from early spring to the beginning of summer – visitors are not admitted to them. Nesting pairs need quiet, and we make sure they have it.
Since 2016 the birds have gradually been settling into the habitats created for them – the orchard plots and the young woods – and using them for nesting, shelter and feeding. It is quiet but very clear proof that when nature is given suitable conditions, it uses them.
The activity was carried out with our own funds and labour. It is part of the consistent work of Ecopark Vaya to create diverse habitats in which every species can find its place.
Today the fruit trees are part of the face of the ecopark – blossoming in spring, heavy with fruit in summer and autumn, and always full of birds.
Project summary
Project: Fruit trees for the birds – local, non-hybrid varieties
Year: 2016
Location: Ecopark Vaya
Activity: planting local varieties of apple, pear, mulberry and plum as a food source for birds; restricting access during the breeding season
Funding: own funds and volunteer work
Status: completed
Photo: Corey Eversole / Unsplash