If you're a gardener or plan to landscape your yard, consider planting species (sp.) that provide both food and shelter to birds. Think of these species as bed and breakfast (B&B) plantings for birds.

Some of the more popular B&B plants include:

• Annuals: amaranthus (Amaranthus sp.), coreopsis (Coreopsis sp.), cosmos (Cosmos sp.), marigold (Tagetes sp.), sunflower (Helianthus sp.), zinnia (Zinnia sp.)
• Perennials: aster (Aster sp.), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and many grasses such as little bluestem (Andropogon)
• Shrubs: sumac (Rhus sp.), elderberry (Sambucus sp.), viburnum (Viburnum sp.), boxwood (Buxus sp.)
• Small trees: holly (Ilex sp.), serviceberry(Amelanchier sp.), dogwood (Cornus sp.)
• Fruiting trees and shrubs: blueberry (Vaccinium sp.), cherry (Prunus sp.), crab apple (Malus sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), mountain ash (Sorbus sp.), spicebush (Lindera), sassafras (Sassafras), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)