Here in SE MA, I also have winter robins. At first there were only a couple checking out the big old winterberry. After a few weeks a flock of about 15 showed up and pretty much stripped the tree of berries, leaving just a few fruits. On New Years Day a small flock appeared to scavenge leftover berries. A couple of years ago I posted the same question when some robins arrived in winter. I'll probably continue to see them sporadically until there are no more berries, or until the spring worms arrive. Claire

We were watching them today also. darting from spot to spot hunting for nest makings. We were also watching a hawk that has made it's way back here for another summer!! I am so glad. The children and ME : ) watched them all last year. They had a pair of babies and we were able to watch them teach them how to hunt etc. What great fun. It was like wild kingdom out side our windows. Some days we would have 2-3 of them out an the again all 4. Everyone runs to the windows in the early a.m. to see them out hunting. Personally I just loved it. As an added bonus!! now I'm going to know an wood as I say this...(knock-knock) I have had no mice in the garage this winter. As well as I did not see one snake in my yard last year. Now if they would just eat those big ole spiders : ) I see some perennials coming up as well. Foxglove and shasta daisy. I think I may have some re-seeded impatience too. Have to keep an eye on then to be sure. Bonnie

Your shrub is an ecosystem Shrubs provide food or a home for many creatures, some welcome and some less so. Many gardeners make special efforts to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but most would prefer that deer don't eat their pride and joy. Wild birds have to roost and nest somewhere and often it is in large shrubs. The simplest rule to follow when choosing a shrub that will attract wildlife is to choose something native to your area. Birds and insects are very well adapted to native flora, but usually have little use for exotic shrubs. Hummingbirds and butterflies are especially picky and can often only survive on one type of plant. There are other useful points to bear in mind. We all think of providing berries for the winter months, but berries are also a very valuable food source in summer and autumn, so add shrubs that crop at different times of the year. Gardeners with large amounts of land can have a serious beneficial effect by providing habitat, but also by linking habitats using hedgerows. Butterflies Butterflies need plants for two main things: nectar for themselves; and food for caterpillars. They usually raise their caterpillars on one or a very few types of plant. They are also choosy about where to get their nectar. Many of the shrubs that attract butterflies with nectar will also attract hummingbirds. Latin name Common Name Comments USDA zones Abelia grandiflora Glossy Abelia Long flowering season attracts butterflies. 6-10 Abutilon hybridum Chinese Lantern Good for hummingbirds too. 8-11 Buddleia Butterfly Bush Famous for attracting butterflies, they come for the nectar. 5-9 Caesalpinia gilliesii Bird of Paradise Exotic flowers bring exotic butterflies. 9-12 Crataegus Hawthorn Host plant for Swallowtails and Hairstreaks. 4-9 Hibiscus Hibiscus Nectar for butterflies. 5-9 Hypericum 'Hidcote' St John's Wort Host for Hairstreak caterpillars. 5-9 Kolkwitzia amabilis Beauty Bush Nectar attracts many butterflies. 4-8 Lindera benzoin Spicebush Host plant for Swallowtail caterpillars. 4-8 Malus Crabapple Rotting fruit attracts some butterflies. Also host for Swallowtail and Hairstreak caterpillars. 4-9 Prunus serotina Black Cherry Host plant for several butterfly larvae. 3-9 Rhododendron Rhododendron/Azalea Attracts butterflies when in flower. 3-9 Ribes Flowering Currant Host for Angelwing caterpillars and provides nectar when in flower. 4-9 Birds except Hummingbirds Birds are attracted to some shrubs for food, usually berries, and for nest sites. Almost any shrub that produces berries provides a feast for some bird or other. Hummingbirds feed on nectar and so they tend to like many of the same shrubs that are attractive to bees. Latin name Common Name Comments USDA zones Amelanchier Serviceberry Tasty berries for everyone. 3-8 Aronia Chokeberry Edible berries. 4-8 Cornus Dogwood Berries on most varieties. 5-9 Cotoneaster Cotoneaster Salicifolius seems very popular, the smaller ones seem to be left until last. 4-9 Ilex Holly Robins especially like the berries. 3-10 Lindera Spicebush Fruit in autumn. 4-8 Mahonia Grapeholly Late summer fruit. 5-9 Prunus Cherry/Laurel All Prunus fruit seem highly palatable to birds as well as humans. 3-9 Pyracantha Firethorn Abundant fruit for winter birds. 6-10 Sambucus Elder Summer fruit. 4-9 Symphoricarpus Snowberry Berries not always eaten but can be a good food source in harsh weather. 2-8 Viburnum Viburnum Fruit of some types is edible by humans as well as birds. 3-9 Hummingbirds and Bees Almost any showy flowering shrub will be attractive to hummingbirds or bees. Any flowering native shrubs are generally good for bees, but hummingbirds are a little more selective. Latin name Common Name Comments USDA zones Buddleia Butterfly Bush It's not just butterflies that love the nectar. Bees and sometimes hummingbirds also feed here. 5-9 Cotoneaster Cotoneaster Bees love it. 4-9 Escallonia Escallonia Another bee magnet. 8-11 Ilex Holly Attracts bees during the short flowering season. 3-10 Lonicera Honeysuckle Some hummingbirds feed on these shrubs. 5-9 Rhododendron Azalea/Rhododendron Hummingbirds like nectar from these. 3-9 Ribes Flowering Currant Watch out for bees near this shrub in spring. 4-9 Weigela Weigela Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. 5-9

I'm in the Midwest too. I buy mealworms at Lowes and mix them with raisins to distribute to the robins that didn't migrate. Have a heated water dish as well, though I mostly see the squirrels using it. Lots of snow here. I've been scraping snow away from the feeder area all week. Got blue jays, cardinals, grackles, pigeons, dark eyed juncos, sparrows, house finches, crows, lots of squirrels visiting regularly. Have a variety of feeders. I scrape areas on the ground to toss black oil seeds so the more shy visitors. I don't bother with the striped sunflower seeds because they are too tough for the smaller birds to crack open. I mix grit and fine sand with the seed that is sprinkled on the deck rail so it slows down the squirrels. It also helps the doves and other birds who will eat the stuff off the road if they can't find it elsewhere. Peanut ring and suet feeders. I smear peanut butter on rice cakes and put these in the suet feeder. Going to experiment with making my own suet. Anyone seen the Cornel Live cams? I like looking at the feeders they use to get ideas. A link that might be useful: http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/all-cams/