This is Bird Note.

Poison ivy is the bane of many outdoor enthusiasts.

The plants' distinctive leaves are made up of three leaflets,

and starting in late summer, its branches are full of whitish berries

that are toxic to humans, but not to a gray catbird.

They'll land on poison ivy and pluck off the berries one after another.

Just like its leaves, poison ivy berries are rich in an oil called

Yerushial, that can cause a serious allergic reaction in humans.

But catbirds and other bird species just aren't sensitive to Yerushial.

Poison ivy berries are one of many fruits that help bird survive fall and winter

once insects become scarce.

Other wild fruits such as pokeberry, holly, and Virginia creeper

are poisonous to humans, but not to birds.

So, the old survival advice to eat the berries that birds eat

turns out to be pretty misleading.

While you probably want to stay away from Poison ivy,

you can improve habitats for birds by planting native fruit bushes

and advocating for wildlife-friendly gardening in public green spaces.

Learn more on our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Ariana Rimmel.