The mulberry trees on our Littleton farm are now bearing fruit and the wildlife know it. Robins, house finches and cedar waxwings are the most reliable consumers though Bullock's orioles and gray catbirds partake as well.
Magpies and spotted towhees scavenge the ground beneath the trees and mammals are drawn to the fruit day and night; fox squirrels, raccoons and mice are the regular participants, joined by red fox during their years of residence.
Aside from the usual berry fans, other birds are attracted by the feeding activity and our mulberry stations are excellent and convenient sites for birding; I even join the feast during my vigils. Furthermore, mulberry trees are drought tolerant, offering a reliable source of nutrition in this semi-arid environment.
