ooooh, good question.

Besides preparing soil (about which I know nothing), I would research on flowers that

1. Are native
2. Serve birds and butterflies
3. Bloom at different times throughout the spring and summer

I think there are forums on this site for Native plants.

I created a butterfly garden a few years ago, and it was rich in butterflies, birds and other insects. It was its own little world. The plants were easy to maintain and bloomed bigger and better with each year.

The only glitch we encountered was Woodland sunflower. We planted it in a full-sun area and it tried to take over! Had I the chance to do it again, I would have given it its own area, like I did the Obedient plant!

If you are seriously trying to create a habitat area I would like to recommend and excellent book for you:

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher Bird feeders and Bird Gardens
by Robert Burton & Stephen Kress

Published for the Audubon Society by Thunder Bay Press

ISBN # 1-57145-186-2

i haven't a clue what it costs because I received my copy as a gift, but I can assure you, if you can only afford one book for your project this is the one you must have.

It has separate chapters on "Birds in the yard" (Basic bird watching, Attracting Birds, Bird Profiles (an excellent set of photos for identifying birds, Behavior Guide, Bird Survival 9covers bird survival, mortality & rescue), Bird Gardens, landscaping for Birds, Planting Advice, Suplimental Feeder (bird feeders of all varieties), Water in teh garden ( bird baths, water falls and garden pools), Regional guide to plants & birds.

This book has dozens of plans on how to construct bird feeders and bird houses.

Its large Hardbound book about 8"x10" with 381 pages of text, plans and data that would fit any need from an apartment dweller to a super macmansion landscape.

i have started getting the seed and garden catalogs in the mail already this year. we have ordered shurbs and trees and flowers over the years that the birds like, I enjoy looking anyway, Bush cherrys or currents or elderberrys
crabapples sumac and several others grow well here and the bluebirds and robins enjoy them. Zinnias and sunflowers and
rice grass and crested wheat grass and hollyhocks are good for finches and sparrows. Our local hardware carrys seeds and small plants in the spring. when its blowing snow and icy out a hot cup of tea and a gardening catalog is a pleasant way to pass a little time and make a wish list.

My whole yard is planted for the birds. I have never seen as much activity at an easy to grow plant as I do with the salvia plants. The butterflies and hummingbirds love the nectar and the Gold Finches love the seeds. I also have an ornamental pear tree which attracts all kinds of birds in the spring and fall. In the spring when it blooms it really brings in the Baltimore Orioles, plus so many species that I otherwise wouldn't see.

I live in an area with heavy clay soil and poor drainage. One of the plants I've had very good luck with is penstemmon which I chose to attract hummingbirds. I planted three of them and will add a few more this season because the hummingbirds really did go for it. As far as preparing, you cannot overdo it. Working and amending your soil is the most productive thing you can do. Spend twice the amount of time on that than you do on the plants themselves and you'll be glad you did.

I didn't plan a bird habitat per se, with the exception of trying to attract hummingbirds initially, but I did plan my landscaping over the winter months pouring over information on the internet. That progressed to adding feeders to my yard, which has now progressed to specifically planning for plants/trees that attract wildlife. You are on the right track by planning ahead, my biggest regrets are impulse purchases - like the popple tree in our yard (sends runners everywhere). Ugh, I don't have the heart to cut it down right down due to the privacy it provides for us, and the cover it provides for the birds (we have Coopers Hawks in the area). It disguises my feeders in the summer months. Eventually, it will be replaced with a Serviceberry, or a flowering dogwood, Cornus Kousa.

Hummingbirds love my honeysuckle vine, clematis vines and perennial salvia, and for annuals they love my petunias and morning glories. The first time I saw one in my yard I was watering my red morning glories, and imagine my excitement when I realized one was fluttering a foot or two away from me - I'd been trying to attract them.

As we speak, I have my first bird visits to my suet log feeders. Yaaayyyy. I've been waiting for almost a week. I've seen two cardinals visit every day, observing them, now they're enjoying a good meal.

As for amending your soil, adding a layer of composted manure to your planting beds each year will do wonders for your plants, but I would also recommend organic lawn fertilizer - Cockadoodle Doo or Chickity Doo Doo are the two brands I've used, and I've found it locally at nurseries. I usually buy it in bulk off season, much cheaper. We made the mistake of using "weed & feed" lawn products at our local box stores to treat our lawns when we first purchased our home, and two years in a row we found dead animals on our lawn - birds, and small rodents alike (we are in the city). We still don't know if it was the weed & feed, but since we've stopped using chemicals and gone organic, we haven't had any occurences.

Good luck & have fun!