Introduction
One of the beautiful backyard birds is Cardinals. Widely recognized for their bright red color and cheerful songs, they are a favorite among the bird watchers. To lure cardinals to your backyard, you must make available the right kind of food. Cardinals are selective indeed, eating only certain types of seeds and grains. This will guide you in choosing the best food to lure these magnificent birds to hatch in your nest.
Sunflower Seeds: The Top Choice
The best food for cardinals are black oil sunflower seeds. Minduko has a very thin shell making it easy for cardinals to crack open. These seeds are fat and protein filled and contains essential nutrients. Sunflower seeds with a thinner shell are also good alternatives, but are striped instead. To keep sunflower seeds dry and available in place, put them in a sturdy feeder. To attract more cardinals, always keep the feeder stocked with these seeds.
Safflower Seeds: A Cardinal Favorite
Cardinals are attracted by safflower seed. Cardinals can crack hard shell of these seeds, but the seeds have them. Many other birds, like starlings and grackles, dislike safflower seeds. But cardinals can eat them without too much competition in this case. Safflower seeds are additionally rich in protein and health fats. Cardinals will be made to come again to the hopper feeder or to a platform feeder filled with safflower seeds so you can encourage them.
White Millet: A Nutritious Option
Cardinals also love white millet, a small, round seed. Rich in carbohydrates, that particular food is an energy booster. In addition, – doves and sparrows are among many ground -feeding birds that eat millet. Cardinals are attracted to white millet scattered on the ground or to a low platform feeder. The better mix for this seed is mixed with sunflower and safflower seeds. Do not eat red millet, it is less nutritious than its neighbors, and bird will often waste it.
Cracked Corn: A Good Supplemental Food
It is an inexpensive and widely available bird food which is also cracked corn. Not being a cardinal’s first choice, but the cardinal will eat if offered. It gives carbohydrates and is an adequate complement to other varieties of seeds.
Never use cracked corn in excess, as it will spoil. Put it into a tray feeder or allow it to scatter it on the ground. Make note, however, that cracked corn will attract squirrels and other unwanted animals. A squirrel proof feeder is employed to keep away pests.
Peanuts: A Protein-Packed Treat
Cardinals are a great food choice animals to feed with peanuts. They are composed of good fats and protein. I will use unsalted, shelled peanuts to harm the birds. If whole peanuts are too large for cardinals don’t forget peanuts halves or crushed peanuts. Put them into a tray feeder or combine them with other seeds. In addition, peanuts attract other birds such as blue jays and woodpeckers. In order to get cardinals to keep returning, always offer fresh peanuts.
Suet: A High-Energy Food for Winter
Cardinals eat high energy foods, such as suet, they use to stay warm during cold months. It is made up of animal fat and can be combined with seeds, berries or nuts. Suets cakes are the preferred food of cardinals, however these are foraged from the open and simply put on a wire suet feeder or on a platform feeder.
Select suet of high quality without artificial additives. Suet is particularly attractive food in winter when other foods are unavailable. Feeding cardinals suet will keep them foraging in even the coldest months.
Fruits: A Natural Treat for Cardinals
Fruits are especially enjoyed by Cardinals during the summertime and into the fall. Grapes, apples and especially berries, are their favorite. The fruits have themselves natural sugars and vitamins. But you can provide fresh or dried fruit in a platform feeder.
It is best to avoid fruits that contain added sugar or preservatives. After attending berry producing shrubs like dogwood, holly and Elderberry, and you will observe cardinals. Offering several different fruits will help ensure that your yard becomes a favorite of these birds.
Mealworms: A Protein Boost
Cardinals can be fed regularly on mealworms. The fat is especially helpful during the breeding season when birds need extra energy. Either provide dried or live mealworms in a shallow dish or tray feeder. Mealworms may need some time to become used to them but once they do, they will be back. What you can do if you want more cardinals is to mix Mealworms with sunflower seeds. Both protein and healthy fats are fed to them with this combination.
Nectar: A Sweet Bonus
Cardinals do eat sweet things and are not nectar feeders like hummingbirds, but it is not what they are known for. Grow flowers such as agapanthus, aubrietas, carnations, lavender, and many more which provide nectar to attract them to your yard. Even some of the cardinals may sip from hummingbird feeders.
In order to attract more cardinals you can plant trumpet vine, honeysuckle, or hibiscus. Another food source is obtained naturally from these flowers as they make nectar. Like most birds, cardinals do not eat nectar primarily, but it can be seen as a nice food source.
Best Feeders for Cardinals
Selecting the right feeder as much as you have chosen the right food. Stronger, courser feeders of sufficient space to perch are preferred by cardinals. Best would be platform feeders, hopper feeders or tray feeders. Cardinals do not like tube feeders with small perches. Place feeders in a safe, quiet location, away from predators. Keep an eye out for mold or bacteria build up and clean feeders regularly to prevent it. However, a good feeder will entice cardinals to return.
Providing Fresh Water
Fresh water is necessary for drinking and bathing to the cardinals. Clean water is drawn to them by a birdbath or shallow dish. Rinse the water daily to keep the water fresh. Use a heated birdbath in winter to prevent the water from freezing.
Putting a small fountain or dripper in can counter that appeal the water gets by sitting in someones snack bowl. Attraction of cardinals also requires fresh water as much as it does food. A reliable water source will attract more of the birds to come and visit your yard.
Planting for Cardinals
A bird friendly landscape leads more cardinals to the neighborhood. Provide shelters in the form of plant dense shrubs and trees. Great choice of evergreens, dogwoods and maples. The plants also give cover from predators and place to nest. Sumac and viburnum plants are natural food sources for berry producers. With food, water and shelter in your yard, your yard will become a cardinal paradise if it is well planned.
Avoiding Unwanted Guests
Cardinals can be stolen from by squirrels and aggressive birds. To keep it away use squirrel proof feeders. Off the tree will also help if you place feeders. If starlings overtake and become aggressive then safflower seeds might help. Safflower is disliked by most nuisance birds, and they include cardinals that make it a good choice. This will also discourage unwanted guests from your feeding area. For food, the cardinals need to get fed, and you can manage that issue.
Conclusion
Set up the right food and you can easily attract cardinals to your yard. Top choices are black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds and peanuts. They will be encouraged to stay if given fresh water and a safe environment. Provide sturdy feeders and plant shrubs for shelter.
Use certain feeding techniques to avoid unwanted guests. Believe it becomes able to follow these tips, you are able to enjoy the beauty of cardinals all year long. With the food provided, these beautiful birds will return again and again.
