Bird Friendly Coffee - What is It?

What is Bird Friendly Coffee or 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.

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 the phrase, "Bird Friendly®" has been trade-marked by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center 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.

Where to buy Bird Friendly® Coffee - Use the Smithsonian search form to search by state for coffees on the market that are certified as 100% shade-grown and organic, meaning that they are grown without the use of chemical pesticides that poison the environment.

Historically, coffee was originally grown under shade. These coffee plant species 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.

Shade Grown Coffee vs Sun Grown Coffee

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!

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

Shade Grown Coffee

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

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