September 2, 2007 - Foliar Flagging Welcome to the Nature Notebook. Billboards along travel routes lure humans from interstate highways everyday. Similar advertising happens in nature. Before most trees show any change in leaf color, certain understory trees already have brightly colored foliage. Trees like spicebush and dogwoods change color early to lure migrating birds to their berries. The energy-rich, ripe berries are fuel for migrating birds. But with only a brief stopover in unfamiliar territory, how do birds find these nutritious snacks quickly? The trees advertise. Colorful leaves are like neon lights against the green forest making it easy for sharp-eyed birds to find this fast food. Scientists call this “foliar flagging.” It’s a real attention getter. What do the trees get in return? Birds carry their seeds to new sites sometimes miles away providing a long distance dispersal mechanism that helps ensure the trees’ survival. This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.