Trees are for the Birds

On a warm and sunny April afternoon, guests gathered in the shade of the Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum for Florida Atlantic University’s 20^th annual Arbor Day Celebration on John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.

This year’s program was themed “Our Trees are for the Birds” and featured a keynote address from Autumn Kioti Horne, director of education and outreach for Audubon Everglades. Horne explained the importance of trees, not only for their vital role as a habitat for birds and other wildlife, but also how they create spaces of inspiration, rejuvenation and refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In addition, Michelle Danielson, a senior forester with the Florida Forest Service spoke about the importance of small native green spaces within developed landscapes to promote conservation and habitat restoration. She noted that, thanks to the Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum, FAU Jupiter has earned recognition as one of the longest-standing Tree Campus Higher Education institutions in the state of Florida, a designation awarded annually by the Arbor Day Foundation.

“We are very proud of earning and maintaining our Tree Campus certification for 15 years,” said Alana Edwards, education and training coordinator in FAU’s Center for Environmental Studies, who has overseen operations of the arboretum since its inception in 2004. “The Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum came to life from an empty field. Today, it features a variety of native trees and shrubs from four distinct ecosystems and serves as a vibrant living laboratory, outdoor classroom and study area, and community gathering space.”

The Huckshorn Arboretum encompasses a one-acre corner of the FAU Jupiter campus and is populated with native trees and vegetation that provide crucial habitat for wildlife and a space for people from FAU and the surrounding community to immerse themselves in nature. Guests at the Arbor Day Celebration were invited to peruse the shaded walkways in search of bird-themed poems hung among the branches – a hands-on activity that showcased the symbiotic relationship of art, literature and nature.

The Huckshorn Arboretum is managed by the Center for Environmental Studies in partnership with FAU Jupiter’s Office of Academic Affairs. For more information about the arboretum and how to support its ongoing operations, visit https://www.ces.fau.edu/arboretum/.