We’ve all seen the headlines about losing billions of birds across North America over the last few decades. It’s heavy, it feels overwhelming and honestly, it’s enough to make you want to turn off the news and look at photos of kittens instead. Fair, and me too.

Bring it back to your neighborhood: There’s a clear connection between the plants we buy and the birds we love to watch out the window. And it comes down to a specific type of chemical bug killer called neonics. That’s short for neonicotinoids, but let’s stick to neonics. 

What are neonics? They’re a type of insecticide that gets absorbed by the whole plant – leaves, roots, pollen and nectar. It stays inside the plant long after it’s been sprayed, and it doesn’t just kill the “bad” pests; it can also harm the bees, caterpillars and butterflies that visit the plants. 

So, how does this connect to our bluebirds, robins and chickadees?

  • Less Food: Neonics do their job too well, meaning there are fewer bugs for birds to feed their babies in the spring.
  • The Food Chain: If a bird eats an insect that has been exposed to these chemicals, that bug killer ends up inside the bird. It damages their nervous system and can lead to death. 

It’s a bit of a messy reality, but sometimes well-meaning gardeners may accidentally buy “pollinator-friendly” plants that carry chemicals that do the exact opposite of what they were hoping to cultivate in their backyard. 

Many nurseries have already pledged to stop using these chemicals or sourcing from suppliers who do. But the easiest way to know for sure is just to ask.

Here’s one step you can take to start: If you have a favorite garden center, copy the text below, drop it into an email and hit send. It takes two minutes and helps local businesses know that safe, healthy plants matter to their customers.

Subject Line: Question about insecticide use in your plants

Hi there,

I live locally and am trying to make my yard a safe, healthy place for our neighborhood birds and pollinators. I’m planning my garden and was hoping you could help me with two quick questions:

  • Are your plants or seeds treated with neonicotinoids?
  • Do you know if your primary plant suppliers use them?

Thanks so much for your time.

Best,

[Your Name]