Bird Friendly Coffee

What is Bird Friendly Coffee or Shade Grown Coffee?

Baltimore Oriole benefits from bird friendly coffee

Buy Bird Friendly - Shade Grown Coffee

Bird friendly coffee is coffee grown on farms under a shade-tree canopy, forest-like habitat.

Bird friendly coffee mostly benefits neotropical migratory songbirds that winter in Central American rainforests. Habitat loss, especially tropical rainforests, have caused a decline in migratory songbird populations. And sun coffee plantations have contributed to this loss.

Historically, coffee was originally grown under shade. These coffee plant Shade Grown Coffee vs Sun Grownspecies were sun-intolerant, requiring shade. But in 1972, new hybrid, sun-tolerant coffee varieties were developed that yielded 2-3x more coffee beans than shade grown varieties. More coffee = more $$ = clearcutting shade farms and rainforest habitat. Of the 6 million acres of coffee lands, 60% have been stripped of shade trees since 1972.

So essentially sustainable, shade grown coffee farms maintain an alternative, forested habitat for songbirds. Shaded coffee farms are not replicas of natural rainforest habitat, but do provide food, water and shelter that these birds otherwise wouldn't have, especially in clearcut sun coffee farms. In fact, shade coffee farms support over 150 species of birds which far exceeds sun coffee plantations. These shade farms also benefit other animals and plants in addition to songbirds.

Bird Friendly and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center:

We have been speaking in the general sense that bird friendly coffee is any coffee grown on shaded farms. But actually "Bird Friendly" coffee has been trade-marked by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird CenterBird Friendly Coffee of the National Zoo. Coffees with this logo mean that they are certified as shade grown and organic by an independent third-party inspector using the Smithsonian's criteria. And Bird Friendly™ coffees contribute 25 cents per pound to support Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center research and conservation programs.

American Birding Association Songbird Coffee

Song Bird Coffee is another shade-grown coffee brand and is the result of a joint venture between the American Birding Association (ABA)Songbird Coffee and Thanksgiving Coffee Company. Fifteen cents from each package are donated to the ABA. Like Bird Friendly coffees, Thanksgiving Coffee uses verified shade grown coffee. This means that its CEO or the importer has personally inspected the farm to insure that the plants are properly grown in the shade. The Thanksgiving Coffee Company has been a socially and environmentally aware coffee producer for over 34 years.

Shade Grown Coffee vs Sun Grown Coffee

 

Shade Grown Coffee Sun Grown Coffee
Historical, traditional, sustainable method of farming preserves tree-canopy habitat for songbirds and other animals Crop requires full sun, resulting in clearcutting of rainforest habitat causing soil erosion and depletion; unsustainable
Usually organically grown, free of chemical applications Requires chemical fertilizers, pesticides and/or herbicides
Better taste - beans mature more slowly in shade allowing the natural sugars to fully develop, creating a rich, intense flavor Sun-grown hybrid coffees produce higher yields, but do not taste nearly as good as shade-grown coffee

Where to buy Bird Friendly Coffee - Certified Bird Friendly Coffee, Shade Grown Song Bird Coffee from the ABA and Thanksgiving Coffee Company.

Birds help with Pest Management in Coffee Plantations:

The coffee berry borer is estimated to do a half billion dollars worth of damage to coffee crops every year. Farmers are now realizing the benefit of insect-eating birds. For example, in Jamaica it is estimated that warblers can reduce damage by $237 an acre to prized Jamaican Blue Coffee and other high mountain crops. Another score for the birds!

For more information about bird friendly, fair-trade and organic coffees go to the Coffee Contact.

Drink bird friendly coffee and create songbird habitat...An even better way to start your mornings!

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