How to Lure Brilliant Red Cardinals to Your Backyard
Attract the vibrant Northern Cardinal to your property by providing their favorite foods, a safe environment with dense shelter, and a reliable water source. This guide details how do I attract cardinals to my back yard?, and keep them coming back.
Attracting Cardinals: More Than Just a Pretty Bird
The Northern Cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis ) is a beloved sight across much of North America. Their brilliant red plumage (in males) and cheerful song brighten even the dreariest day. But beyond their aesthetic appeal, cardinals play a vital role in the ecosystem. They consume insects, help disperse seeds, and add to the biodiversity of your backyard. Attracting cardinals can significantly enhance your outdoor experience and contribute to a healthier environment.
Understanding Cardinal Preferences
To successfully attract cardinals, you need to understand their basic needs: food, water, shelter, and nesting sites. Mimicking their natural habitat will make your backyard irresistible.
- Food: Cardinals are primarily seed-eaters, but they also consume insects, berries, and fruits.
- Water: A consistent source of fresh water is crucial, especially during dry periods and winter months.
- Shelter: Dense shrubs and trees provide protection from predators and harsh weather.
- Nesting Sites: Cardinals prefer dense thickets for nesting, usually low to the ground.
Creating a Cardinal-Friendly Feeding Station
The right food and feeders are key to attracting cardinals. Here’s how to set up a cardinal-friendly feeding station:
- Choose the Right Food:
- Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: This is a cardinal’s favorite and should be the cornerstone of your offerings.
- Safflower Seeds: Cardinals love these and squirrels often avoid them, giving cardinals a competitive advantage.
- White Striped Sunflower Seeds: A larger sunflower seed option cardinals will still enjoy.
- Cracked Corn: In moderation, cracked corn can be a supplemental food source.
- Peanuts: Offering shelled peanuts is another option to supplement their diet.
- Select the Appropriate Feeders:
- Tube Feeders with Large Perches: Ensure the perches are sturdy and spacious enough for cardinals to land comfortably.
- Hopper Feeders: These feeders hold a larger quantity of seed and are relatively easy to fill.
- Platform Feeders: Cardinals prefer feeders where they can perch and feed easily. Place it near cover, such as a shrub or small tree.
Providing Essential Water Sources
Water is as important as food, particularly in the heat of summer and during freezing winter temperatures. Consider these options:
- Bird Baths: Choose a bird bath with a shallow basin (no more than 2-3 inches deep). Keep it clean and refreshed regularly. Consider adding a heater during winter months to prevent freezing.
- Drippers and Misters: These provide a constant source of dripping water, which cardinals find attractive.
- Shallow Dishes: Simple, shallow dishes of water placed on the ground or a raised platform can also be effective.
Cultivating a Shelter-Rich Environment
Cardinals seek refuge in dense vegetation to escape predators and inclement weather. Here’s how to create a shelter-rich backyard:
- Plant Native Shrubs and Trees:
- Evergreens (e.g., junipers, pines, spruces): Provide year-round shelter and nesting sites.
- Deciduous Shrubs (e.g., hawthorns, viburnums, dogwoods): Offer berries for food and dense cover.
- Create Brush Piles: A brush pile in a secluded corner of your yard provides excellent shelter and nesting material.
- Maintain Dense Thickets: Allow some areas of your yard to grow wild, providing dense thickets where cardinals can feel safe.
Nesting Sites: Encouraging Cardinals to Raise Their Young
Cardinals typically nest in dense shrubs or low trees. Providing suitable nesting sites will encourage them to breed in your backyard.
- Maintain Natural Vegetation: Avoid excessive pruning of shrubs and trees, especially during the nesting season.
- Provide Nesting Material: Offer natural nesting materials such as twigs, leaves, and pine needles.
- Avoid Pesticides: Pesticides can harm nesting birds and their young. Opt for natural pest control methods.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Attracting cardinals requires avoiding common mistakes that can deter them.
- Using Poor Quality Bird Seed: Cheap bird seed often contains fillers that cardinals won’t eat.
- Dirty Feeders and Bird Baths: Dirty feeders and bird baths can harbor bacteria and attract pests.
- Excessive Pesticide Use: Pesticides can harm cardinals and their food sources.
- Lack of Shelter: Without adequate shelter, cardinals will feel vulnerable and avoid your yard.
- Predator Threats: Cats and other predators can deter cardinals. Keep cats indoors or provide safe nesting areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Attracting Cardinals
What is the best time of year to start attracting cardinals?
The best time to start is year-round. Cardinals are non-migratory, so they are present throughout the year in their range. Consistent food and water sources will encourage them to stay and even nest in your backyard.
What specific types of shrubs are best for attracting cardinals?
Evergreen shrubs like junipers, pines, and spruces provide excellent year-round shelter and nesting sites. Deciduous shrubs such as hawthorns, viburnums, and dogwoods offer berries for food and dense cover.
Are there specific feeder designs cardinals prefer?
Cardinals prefer feeders with sturdy perches large enough to accommodate their size. Tube feeders with large perches, hopper feeders, and platform feeders are all good options. Position feeders near cover like shrubs for their security.
How often should I clean my bird feeders and bird bath?
Bird feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks, or more often if they become soiled. Bird baths should be cleaned every few days to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae.
What can I do to keep squirrels away from cardinal feeders?
Using safflower seeds is a great start as squirrels often ignore them. You can also try squirrel-proof feeders, which are designed to prevent squirrels from accessing the seed. Placement of feeders is also important, placing them where squirrels can’t jump onto them from trees or fences.
Do cardinals eat suet?
While cardinals primarily eat seeds, they will occasionally eat suet, especially during the winter months when other food sources are scarce.
What is the cardinal nesting season?
The cardinal nesting season typically runs from March to September. They may have multiple broods during this time.
How can I protect cardinal nests from predators?
Providing dense, thorny shrubs can deter predators. Keeping cats indoors and minimizing human disturbance near nesting sites are also important.
What does a cardinal nest look like?
Cardinal nests are typically cup-shaped and made of twigs, leaves, bark strips, and grass. They are usually located in dense shrubs or low trees.
Why are some cardinals not as brightly colored?
Only the male cardinals are a bright red color. Females are a more muted brown color with reddish tinges. Immature males may have a mix of brown and red plumage.
What can I do if I find a baby bird on the ground?
If the baby bird is fully feathered and hopping around, it’s likely a fledgling learning to fly. Leave it alone and observe it from a distance. If it’s unfeathered or injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
What is the lifespan of a cardinal?
The average lifespan of a cardinal in the wild is 3 years, but some can live much longer, even exceeding 10 years.