Year round you’ll have the most success attracting Cardinals by providing seed in a feeder with a larger flat perching area. He hops over to her, tilts his head sideways and places the tidbit in her bill. It often occurs at feeders and is endearing to watch. In the spring, however, male Cardinals have the delightful habit of feeding hulled seeds to the female as part of their courtship. Cardinal Chorusĭuring the winter, the male Cardinal tries to dominate at the feeder, but his mate usually ignores him and goes right on eating. They do not suffer the chatter of neighboring Sparrows nor the infighting of house finches, but dine with their mate in majestic splendor. Cardinals approach the feeder with an attitude, as if aware of their royal heritage. Then they crack it open and eject the hull before swallowing. They roll the seed around with their tongue until it is sideways in their strong, cone-shaped bill. And they may be economically valuable because of their weed seed consumption, eating at least one hundred kinds in the wild.Īt your feeder, Cardinals prefer black oil sunflower or safflower seeds. They aid in pest control, feeding on such insects as potato beetles, cotton boll weevils and the cucumber beetle. Cardinal Pair Glass Light Up GlobeĪs one of the most recognized songbirds in North America, Cardinals also could be known for their virtues they are monogamous and remain together throughout the year. While the Cardinal may best be known for its flash of color in garden and woodland, have you ever found one of its feathers on the ground? Blue Jays and Robins shed their feathers like so much fall foliage, but Cardinals just might be the greatest protectors of the princely robes in the feathered kingdom. How many images of the Northern Cardinal do you use as holiday decorations? Is one of your favorite ornaments a Cardinal? What about the tablecloth, outside doormat, holiday wreath, gift wrapping paper? Notice in November and December every time you see the image of a Cardinal as you do your holiday shopping. Northern Cardinal Ornament from Cobane Studios Can you think of anything more enjoyable to put you in the holiday spirit? No wonder it is often referred to as the Winter Holiday Bird. What a beautiful contrast the crimson red Northern Cardinal gives against pure white, fresh snow. For many of us the days ahead will include snow. Posted in Attracting Birds, Bluebirds, Bird Watching | Tagged national audubon society, migration, centralmissouri, songbirdessentials, songbirds, missouri, birding, birdseed, centralmo, feeder, bird countīy: Mel Toellner Photo Courtesy of Gail Hagans from the Songbird Station Photo Contest.Īs this issue of the Songbird Station Newsletter arrives in mailboxes, our thoughts will be turning to the upcoming holiday season. This is the first step toward achieving greater success on your bluebird trail. IX. Remove the old bluebird and/or Tree Swallow nests on your first nest check after the young have fledged. VIII. Monitor your bluebird trail at least once every week. They may fledge prematurely, which could cause their death. VII. Avoid handling the bluebird and/or Tree Swallow young after they are 14 days or older. This will protect the bluebirds from predators and other enemies. VI. Attach a predator guard to your bluebird houses. Change their nests when babies are from seven to 10-days old (only one change per brood needed.) If you don’t, you may end up fledging very few, if any, baby birds. V. Control the most threatening parasite, the blowfly larva. This will allow the valuable Tree Swallow to also nest on your bluebird trail. IV. Add a second bluebird house 21 feet (7 paces) from the first house, at every 300-foot setting. III. Control the House Sparrow, or it will eliminate the bluebird and Tree Swallow. II. Keep the bluebird houses in open habitat. I. Place houses at least 300 feet apart, because bluebirds are territorial.
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