Sharyn Magee

“Restoring the Birds” 

Sharyn Magee embodies the definition of stewardship. For over twenty years she has worked meticulously to foster native species and eradicate invasives on her woodland property, specifically planting to provide bird habitat and activity. 

The variation in vegetation within the Magees’ five acres is remarkable and goes to show just how much biodiversity is possible—and true to nature— when native species are planted.

Stubborn invasive species ultimately pose a threat to forest health but Sharyn acknowledges their ability to provide shelters. To ensure the sustenance of birds, small mammals, and insects, Sharyn pursues eradication mindfully; working in small parcels to ensure there is always good ground cover to provide necessary shelters. 

Her property boasts with Spicebush and Gray dogwoods, native Azalea and native dogwood, native viburnum and black haw, which each contributes to the rich ecosystem. To encourage healthy growth and deter deer browsing, Sharyn chooses to cut a circle around each new plant and tree. Every new sapling and seedling are planted deliberately to foster a healthy forest, ensuring there is a balance of understory and canopy, pollinators and hardwoods. Fostering a native understory has proven to be one of the biggest challenges of her land conservation work. Sharyn’s yard and wooded acres present an array of both berrying and pollinator plants to provide food sources for many bird species all year-round. Sharyn’s property is freely the gathering center for over 20 different bird species, thanks to her designated native plant choices.