Hello Chick, I'm in the northeast also, in Vermont. I would have to say that the willow bushes that grow wild and unkempt in the quarter acre of our land along our stream bed attract the most birds and provide nesting area for them. They love the tangle of branches. This is by far the favorite habitat for birds on our property.

I also have a number of apple and flowering crabapple trees that many birds perch in, and a new growth of pine up on our hill bordering a wooded area.

I'm sure that the hummingbirds drink from some of my perennials although I haven't noticed them feeding from my flowers. I have phlox and daylilies among others. (I provide sugar nectar at feeders on my front porch and that seems to be the hummers' favorite feeding station.)

Not sure if any of this is helpful. I think a thicket of trees and bushes is most likely to attract the most birds. And a water source is another bonus.

Hi Spedigrees,

Thanks for your reply. I am going to plant a couple of pussy willow shrubs on a slope (I'm told they are great for controlling erosion), and I have a crabapple tree that is pretty tall. Your input was really helpful.
My nectar feeders have been not that successful (and I do change the sugar water every other day or so in hot weather).

I am looking into what other trees/shrubs to add. I am putting in two American highbush cranberry shrubs.

Your place sounds wonderful. Thanks again - and any other experience you don't mind sharing would be great!

The big bird attractors in my yard are ...

Wild cherry trees
Mulberry trees
Dogwood trees
Eastern red cedar trees
Chokeberry
Red Oak
Ohio Buckeye
Purple and gray-headed coneflowers
Native coreopsis
Thistle
Poison ivy

I've planted a variety of viburnums and other native bushes but they are still rather small so I can't really say how much they attract. Every year I add a dozen or more bushes! But they are typically small so they take awhile to produce any berries. I also have several crabapple trees but I haven't noticed many birds eating the crabapples.

I do think a variety of plants is good and native plants are always better.

Hope that helps!

Thanks so much for your list - really helpful.

I have a crabapple tree too, our birds use it mostly as a base of operations to go to and from our feeders. I will be paying more attention this fall to see whether the fruit is an attraction or not. Sometimes the tree is absolutely full of birds, other times it seems like not a single one!

Our cherry tree, on the other hand, is a favorite hangout in July. The birds clean it out pretty quickly (leaving our sidewalk and fence a mess!LOL)

Unfortunately that is about it for trees on our property, so I really appreciate your list of trees that are popular with the birds. I am hoping to fill in that gap soon.

I have two new highbush cranberry shrubs but, as you say, they won't have berries for awhile. I've ordered two pussywillow shrubs as well.

Your list really has me thinking about what to get next.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience -

Donna in Massachusetts

Brambles and brushpiles aren't for most people but the birds need them for food and protection. For any planting, I try to stick to natives. Just google your state's DNR, wildlife services and they will be more than happy to help you.

I have many weeds in my yard that butterflies and insects love and Virginia Creeper is all over (had to tell my neighbor it was not poison to avoid possible "issues").
Trees with peeling bark and snags are left to provide shelter and food. Unless property is threatened, I leave them alone to die and rot. Pokeberry is left to grow to the size of small trees. If you are in a neighborhood association, you probably will be restricted how wild you can let your property go but there are more agencies now to support this than not.

Linda

Thanks Linda, your point about letting brambles and brush piles alone is helpful in planning what to do with our property. We do have blackberry brambles on one corner that are dense and have been considered by us to be weeds. Now I consider them as a safe place for our cardinals and other birds that would need safe cover, as you said, and I will value them rather than take them out.

Also, we are having to let our vegetable garden go for the summer (trouble with my leg) and I covered most of it with salt marsh hay. The rest I let go to weeds and, as you said, we have butterflies enjoying those.

I will definitely check with the Massachusetts DNR about native plant species. Thanks for the ideas -

Donna

There are many varieties of crabapple and they are not all "good eating" for the birds. You could check with your local extension office or DNR to find out what they like. Here, Red Splendor is a huge hit. I put them in hoping to attract cedar waxwings and pileated woodpeckers. I get them and much more.

Favorites here:
Red Splendor crabapple
Spruce trees and pine shrubs for hiding in
Willows in spring
Serviceberry
Amur chokecherry
Native chokecherry
Virginia creeper (in fall the pileated woodpeckers are on it constantly)
honeysuckle
coneflower
rudbeckia
nepeta
thistle (goldfinches use the thistle down for nesting material)
dog hair (!)

There's more but these are the biggies.

By far the most popular flower that I have ever had planted in my yard is the purple coneflower. I love goldfinch and I had about 50 one afternoon.

My Tom Thumb patio blueberries are very popular also. The hummers love the red honeysuckle

The NH Nursery has packages for wildlife, which contain bushes that provide bird food. They might not all be native, however, and they are often saplings so they may take a few years before flowering and creating fruit. My neighbor had a flock of Cedar Waxwings strip down her Hollies.

Like another poster, I see the finches and sparrows eating seed from Purple Coneflowers, rudbeckias, and sunflowers. Godlfinches in my area also love Anise Hyssop seed (Agastache foeneculum). Hummers love delphiniums, Kniphofia, butterfly bush.

Your soil is also a food source--I had Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers here going, I believe, after JB grubs, as well as the Robins and Grackles.

The beautiful thing about most of the things suggested will also serve to help out butterflies (I'm usually on the butterfly forum), so your garden will be thriving with life while there's nectar and seed!

The National Wildlife Federation gives certificates of recognition for backyard wildlife habitats. I helped my mom do one back in the 80's for our property (well my property now) Seems like we just filled out some forms and provided documentation that we provided food, water and cover for wildlife. The certificate is hanging on the wall but I think now they give something you put in your yard-others on this forum will know.
Susan

chickadeemelrose,
I looked online & you fill out an online survey & send them a registration fee & you may be certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. The outdoor sign costs extra but as all money goes to National Wildlife Federation that's ok with me. There is a lot of good info on their site as well about creating a backyard habitat.
Susan

I really appreciate the suggestions everyone has had for what to plant, where to get it - and also the idea of the Backyard Habitat program.

I have planted the highbush cranberries and I'm planting some pussy willows; also purple coneflowers, asters, and wild geraniums. This is just a smidgen of what I WANT to do, but it's a start.

I so enjoy this - thanks!

If youÂre in the process of working to make our property into more of a bird habitat you might want to think about adding a birdbath. Birdbaths often are the central feature of an overall plan for a bird garden setting that includes natural nectar and food plants, shrubs, trees, and feeders. They often are placed where they may be viewed through the windows of a home. They also may be placed on a small patio, deck, or terrace which is designed carefully to provide for the safety of the birds by eliminating access by predators. You might find this site informative, I recently purchased a bird bath fountain from them and we are very happy we did. It attracted many different birds which we haven't seen before we add it to our bird garden, and the sound of the water is so tranquil. They offer 100% satisfaction guaranteed, plus FREE ground shipping! We were very happy we made this addition to our bird garden.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.aquariusfountainsnmore.com/Birdbath-Fountains/2404-1