How does buying shade coffee help migratory birds?
Shade coffee is grown in a forest-like setting that provides habitat for a surprisingly rich diversity of species, especially migratory birds. A shade coffee forest mimics a native forest, with several vertical levels of growth and a wide variety of plants and insects for the birds to eat. One study conducted in Mexico found over 140 species of birds in shade coffee farms while sun-coffee farms contained only 5-6 species.
