If you think of a bird bed, what comes to mind? A cozy naptime spot tucked into an existing bird house? For plant science undergraduate Andrew Heffner, it's something more dynamic; a curated garden plot of native plantings where insects and other beneficial species multiply as tasty treats for visiting birds. Heffner maintains this mini-biodiversity hotspot by the campus Community Learning Garden, and intends to turn UMD into a sanctuary for our feathered friends with a little help from the UMD Arboretum & Botanical Garden, fellow students, and the National Audubon Society.
“We are hoping to attract as many birds as possible,” says Heffner. “We have many different food and habitat resources in the beds. There are berry-producing plants, seed plants, shrubbery for habitat, nectar-producing plants, and more. One specific example would be that we planted Penstemon digitalis, bee balm, and cardinal flower to attract and support hummingbirds.”
The impact of Heffner’s work is already apparent. Since 2024, the iNaturalist page for the bird beds has recorded more than 200 species with over 900 individual observations. For Heffner, involving the community in data collection is key. Now, anyone can log on to filter species and chart their own observations While working in the beds, Heffner and fellow students frequently see mourning doves, pigeons, blue jays, fish crows, and the occasional hawk.
The insects supported by the beds are especially important for birds, as raising a single brood of chickadees requires approximately 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars. Now with 1,000-plus square feet of dedicated native habitat, Heffner is optimistic that biodiversity numbers will increase.
But he’s not stopping there. Heffner is also making his mark with other campus beautification projects, by planting a native garden at Symons Hall and upgrading the Edible Forest Garden by A.V. Williams. He hopes to roll ongoing projects like these into an initiative called Campus Stewards. The program would scale up the bird beds concept by targeting underutilized landscaping and replacing invasive species with native gardens. It’s in the initial stages, but he is hoping to secure funding to help support his vision.
After graduating, Heffner hopes to work at environ-mental non-profits to amplify and scale up grassroots community greening projects. He sees himself in a leadership role that fosters a brighter future through engagement, education, and hands-on projects.
“I really am passionate about native plants, especially getting them everywhere we can,” says Heffner. “I think that our urban landscapes are really under-utilized spaces for increasing biodiversity."
-Andrew Muir
