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This nonprofit grew out of Tricia’s independent reseach project in her Masters degree program in Landscape Architecture at Florida International University in Miami, FL. It began as an exploration of the Tropical Hardwood Hammocks close to her home in Key Largo, FL. Her independent study turned into her Master’s Project (s). The educational project become Food Trucks For Birds and she did a park design for Rowell’s Park in Key Largo, FL. While Tricia was interviewing Janice the state park ranger she told Tricia ” I know you love the plants but it’s also about the birds. The Florida Keys are a springboard habitat for their southbound migration”. It turns out the native plants are the last food source stop for birds before their over water non-stop flights island hopping through the Caribbean. There are 600 species of birds worldwide and 350 are considered NeoTropical Migrating Birds. We have that travel back and forth from North to South America every year. There are about 274 species that travel our area (click here for more information)

Driving home one evening from graduate school, Tricia was thinking about the birds and the plants. The question that came to mind was – how to design an effective education program to encourage people to plant natives at their property. So, after getting back on the road from filling up on gas and cuppa tea, the storm clouds were brewing from above. On the long 18 mile stretch, the song from AC / DC Highway to Hell came on the radio. Looking up at the sky, she thought that is a rough highway in the sky for those birds. And, remembering the food truck for humans at the beginning of Key Largo, the idea popped into her head. These birds need a metphorical (native plants patch as a natural food source) “food truck” for a stop over. That wil make a fun educational project. If I make it fun, maybe people will participate.

The idea for the logo came from another rock and roll song Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf. Tricia was looking for bird inspiration on YouTube when the song came up. If you watch the video at about the 3 minute mark, the guitar player stands up on the motorcycle and flaps his arms. Bingo – I’ll put a bird on a motorcycle and send her down the migration highway!

That’s how it all got started. It was just a crazy little idea one day.

The Florida Keys librarians loved the idea. It took flight.

What can we do for the birds? We need to uderstand that Florida in general and the Florida Keys in particular are the last habitats for the birds to fuel up for their over water flights. They require as much fat reserve as possible. We encourage the general public to attend one of Tricia’s talks for download the free PDF for horticulture to do an analysis of their property. It’s important to choose Right Plant, Right Place for success. Online Tricia has quick start plant lists and there will be full planting plans for each zone in Florida posted soon.

After you have installed your native plants, register your Food Truck For Birds with us, and we’ll showcase you on the website and / or social media. You can also request a garden flag so that the birds will see it and stop over by your house 😉

Tricia organized the research into illustrated slides and won a Florida ASLA award for this project. She can’t do this alone. Help Tricia – Help the Birds – Help the Humans.