Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
A Blue Bird eating Staghorn Sumac
Image by Marissa Nolan

A picture of a Blue Bird eating Sumac

Photo of Stephen Kress, with Brown-Eyed Susan plants.
Image by Elissa Wolfson

A photo of Stephen Kress in a patch of Brown Eyed Susans.

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Native Plant Gardening: Gardening for Birds

  • Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Gardening for Birds shares some of the interactions between birds and native plants and provides ideas for improving properties of all sizes for birds. Stephen lives with his wife Elissa on a 40-acre rural property at the edge of Ithaca where he tests techniques for improving gardens and landscapes for birds. This presentation is hybrid, you may attend in person or virtually and it will be recorded with materials sent to all who register.

Instructor's bio: Stephen Kress is a visiting fellow of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and founder of Audubon’s Project Puffin. He has a lifelong interest in creating habitats for landbirds with a focus on native plants that benefit birds and pollinators. He received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Wildlife Management from Ohio State University and his Ph.D. in Environmental Education from Cornell. Among his many books on birding and backyard wildlife management, he is author of The Bird Garden.

Fee

This program is valued at $20, however, please pay what you are able. Paying more than $20 will help others attend the class.

Register

https://ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/m1kf166w1uficke/

Contact

Marissa Nolan
Horticulture Team Lead
mn623@cornell.edu
607-272-2292 x194

Location

This event is online

Location

CCE-Tompkins Education Center
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850-3555

Last updated January 12, 2026

 

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