| That red bird with the big beak really has it made. During the holidays, just about everyone receives its picture. It might just be the number one Christmas card pinup! The Northern Cardinal, as this bird is officially called, is popular for good reason. No other bird looks so good against freshly fallen snow. Both the male and the female sing a pleasant, simple song that is often counter-sung (the male answers the female on a slightly different pitch). Cardinals seem to prosper even with the habitat alternations accompanying our home-building efforts. Few other songbirds reward us so richly or rapidly if we scatter a few handfuls of their favorite seed on the ground or on a low feeding table. The preferred seeds of the Cardinal are: Black Oil Sunflower, and Safflower, or a mixture of both. The Cardinal's large bill also allows them to crack open the larger striped sunflower seeds. The Cardinal is not a hard bird to please. Provide his favorite seeds and the Cardinal will often be your first bird to feed in the morning, and the last at night. In the Spring, you will enjoy seeing the male Cardinal offer the female a carefully selected seed as part of their "Male Feeding Ritual". Cardinals are "ground" feeders; however, they will feed on flat surfaces. Therefore, wood platform feeders (hopper, fly-thru, open platform) placed five feet or so above ground level are ideal to attract them. Note that the perches on most tube feeders are too small to allow Northern Cardinals to comfortably feed. To attract Cardinals, you must attach a tray. The Cardinal will not use nest boxes. Provide vine, fruit bearing shrubbery, for best results in attracting nesting Cardinals |
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