"Bird Friendly®" coffee is a trademark of the Smithsonian Shade grown coffee program. A traditional form of coffee production, shade-grown coffee is grown under a canopy of trees which provides habitat for birds. The National Audubon Society has partnered with the Smithsonian to support the "Bird Friendly" label.

Not only is "Bird Friendly®" coffee shade-grown, it is also organic, meaning it is grown without the use of chemical pesticides. The Smithsonian shade grown/bird friendly coffee program is the only body certifying for "Bird Friendly®," a certification label ensuring coffee is grown in a manner that provides good, forest-like habitat for birds.

The "Bird Friendly®" coffee label is controversial. Some small coffee farmers feel the label is too restrictive, since it requires that about 11 specific trees be included in the shade canopy. Farmers we spoke to at La Trinidad cooperative could not be certified despite having a thick shade canopy. Additionally, farmers receive no extra premium for shade grown. Mexican ecologist Beatriz Avalos favors less restrictive standards which she believes would actually lead to more preservation of the canopy. The Rainforest Alliance also has a coffee certification that includes shade grown standard which is less restrictive than that of the Smithsonian (http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
programs/agriculture/certification/index.html).

To learn more about bird friendly coffee and where to find it, visit:
Smithsonian National Zoological Park > Conservation & Science >Migratory Bird Center > Coffee
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/
MigratoryBirds/Coffee/