If you’ve wandered through New Hampshire this October, you might have noticed a buzz of activity around one particular tree.
Bees are swarming, birds are gathering, and it’s hard not to stop and watch the action. That tree? It’s the wild cherry tree, showing off its late-season blossoms and juicy fruit.
Trust me, once you see it in action, you’ll understand why both pollinators and feathered friends can’t resist it.
1. Late-Season Fruit Provides Essential Energy
October brings a special gift from wild cherry trees across New Hampshire: late-ripening fruit that birds absolutely love. Many other food sources have already disappeared by this time, making these cherries incredibly valuable.
Robins, cedar waxwings, and blue jays gobble up the small, dark cherries to fuel their migration journeys. The fruit’s high sugar content gives birds the energy boost they desperately need.
Even bees visit any remaining blossoms or feed on the sweet juice from split cherries on the ground.
2. Nectar-Rich Blossoms Attract Pollinators
Wild cherry trees produce clusters of fragrant white flowers that smell like honey on a warm day. Bumblebees, honeybees, and native pollinators zoom from blossom to blossom, collecting nectar and pollen throughout the blooming season.
While peak blooming happens earlier in spring, some New Hampshire trees produce late flowers that still attract hungry bees in early October. The nectar helps bees build up their winter food stores.
Without these blossoms, many bee colonies would struggle to survive the cold months ahead.
3. Shelter Among Dense Branches
Picture a cozy hideaway where birds can escape from hawks and harsh weather—that’s what wild cherry trees offer. The branching pattern creates perfect hiding spots throughout the tree’s canopy.
Chickadees, sparrows, and warblers dart between the branches when predators approach. New Hampshire’s October winds can get pretty fierce, and these trees provide excellent windbreaks for smaller birds trying to stay warm.
Squirrels also use the branches as highways to travel safely between feeding areas without touching the ground.
4. Insects Living in the Bark
Beneath the rough, peeling bark of wild cherry trees lives a whole buffet of insects that birds find irresistible. Beetles, ants, and larvae burrow into the wood, creating a protein-rich feast.
Woodpeckers hammer away at the bark in New Hampshire forests, their sharp beaks finding hidden treats inside. Nuthatches and brown creepers spiral around the trunk, picking off insects from every crack and crevice.
Did you know? A single cherry tree can support hundreds of different insect species that birds depend on.
5. Brilliant Fall Foliage Creates Visibility
When October arrives in New Hampshire, wild cherry trees explode into shades of red, orange, and yellow that practically glow in the sunlight. This brilliant display isn’t just pretty—it actually helps birds spot the trees from far away.
Migrating birds flying overhead can easily identify cherry trees as food sources thanks to their distinctive autumn colors. The bright leaves act like nature’s billboard, advertising cherries and insects to hungry travelers.
Bees also navigate better when trees stand out against the autumn landscape.
6. Ideal Nesting Sites for Future Seasons
Smart birds scout out perfect nesting locations long before spring arrives, and wild cherry trees check every box on their list. Strong, horizontal branches provide stable platforms for building nests.
Cardinals, mourning doves, and finches return year after year to the same cherry trees across New Hampshire because they remember these reliable spots. The trees grow tall enough to discourage ground predators but aren’t so high that parent birds exhaust themselves flying up and down.
October visits help birds memorize these prime real estate locations for next year’s breeding season.
7. Water Collection in Leaf Joints
After morning dew or October rain showers, wild cherry trees become natural water fountains for thirsty creatures. Water collects in the spots where leaves meet branches and in the rough bark’s grooves.
Bees need water to cool their hives and make honey, so they sip from these tiny pools throughout New Hampshire’s forests. Birds also drink from these convenient spots, especially when nearby streams start freezing.
The textured bark holds moisture longer than smooth-barked trees, making cherries particularly valuable during dry autumn spells when other water sources disappear.
8. Chemical Compounds Deter Predators
Wild cherry trees contain natural compounds in their leaves and bark that smell unpleasant to many predators but don’t bother birds or bees at all. Cats, raccoons, and other hunters often avoid spending too much time around these trees.
Birds recognize this protective quality and feel safer feeding and resting in cherry trees throughout New Hampshire. The bitter-almond scent from crushed leaves actually creates a security system that works in nature’s favor.
Bees benefit too, since fewer predators lurking nearby means they can gather food without constant interruptions or danger.