If you've ever noticed the return of a favorite bird each year, you've already been part of a much bigger story.
Many of the birds that move through your backyard, local woods, or favorite walking trail have traveled thousands of miles to get there. They follow seasonal paths called flyways, moving between North America and the regions where coffee is grown. The forests and farms along the way are all part of that journey, creating a network of habitats to rest, feed, and survive. Including coffee farms!
We've built our partnerships with cooperatives around relationships, shared values, and how coffee is grown. We work with cooperatives in Peru, Honduras, and Guatemala that are certified through the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and over time, the connection to migratory birds has become an exciting part of that story.
On a Bird Friendly farm, coffee grows under a canopy of trees that feels closer to a forest than a field. There are multiple layers of shade, different tree species, and a mix of plant life that support the soil and the surrounding ecosystem. Waterways are protected, and the landscape is managed in a way that ensures long-term benefit.
Species like the Broad-winged Hawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Ovenbird all rely on forested habitats at different points of their migration. The same trees that shade coffee plants can provide shelter, food, and rest during their journey.
There's something happening on the farms, too. Shade trees help protect soil, hold moisture, and support a more balanced ecosystem. Birds and insects help keep pest populations in check. Farmers benefit from this system too. Shade trees can also provide fruit, wood, and other products alongside coffee, creating financial stability over time.
For bird lovers like us, there's something especially meaningful here. The same birds we notice returning each year may have spent part of their lives in the same landscapes where our coffee is grown. That connection adds a new layer to our mission to brew great coffee and create real change.