We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, with peak bird migration in process, Desiree Narango, a conservation scientist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, explains the important link between native trees to caterpillars to birds.

Hello, gorgeous! The leaves on my pin oak are finally out, but still bright green & not at full size. But before leaves came the flowers. These pendulous strands are male🌸- no petals means improved wind pollination. Female flwrs become acorns. Itchy eyes? Thank an oak #BLTrees https://t.co/bUjRydoqQL pic.twitter.com/mLjoOwbRvv

Yes!! So excited for the opportunity to chat about the importance of #nativetrees for insects and birds! Tune into @BrianLehrer @WNYC today at ~11:40am ET to learn about what birds eat & what you can do to support #migratorybird conservation at home. #plantsforwildlife #BLtrees https://t.co/MBJcEiMAI8 pic.twitter.com/IzMXmJYAxg

Take a closer 👀 #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/qoOLcmrbAN

#bltrees pic.twitter.com/g8giNrLvJI

.⁦@BrianLehrer⁩ Another shot of my tree. American Elm at West 129 and Saint Nicholas Terrace.#bltrees #bltree pic.twitter.com/gS4OlVsAcw

🌧 💦 keep falling on my head #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/Ya42Zxyii4

I think I missed a month, but here’s my May entry for #BLtrees We’re really starting to leaf out! pic.twitter.com/6Kkj7YAAvx

I think I missed a month, but here’s my May entry for #BLtrees We’re really starting to leaf out! pic.twitter.com/6Kkj7YAAvx

#BLtrees - Month 7Fully green - wish I'd snapped the pic yesterday, in the sunshine.cc @BrianLehrer @NYCbotanist pic.twitter.com/DUoSmmvm01

#BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu

#BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu

#BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu

#bltrees this is my glorious sweetie now!!! It was very sparse and wayyyy behind its lush neighbors until like last week. I was going to ask why- but now she’s good!!! pic.twitter.com/xpOYxyxTvy