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| Bird FAQS |
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Top Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
Take Down Your Feeders so the birds will migrate. No matter how many types or how many feeders you have this will NOT stop any bird from migrating. It is in their inner clock that tells birds when to leave. They NEED fuel to migrate.
No Patience! Just because you hang up a feeder does not mean birds will immediately flock to your feeder. (It does happen though!) If you do not see birds at your feeder in a month's time - move it. Sometimes a short distance is all it needs.
Offering bread scraps. Bread attracts starlings, grackles, crows & sparrows. Bread is a filler with no nutritional value.
Baffling Squirrels. If you can't beat them feed them! It HELPS to feed them away from your feeders. Place feeders 8-10' away from any place squirrels can jump from. Use baffles to prevent them from coming down from the top or up a pole. They work!
Only 1 Feeder. Hang a variety of feeders at different heights. Limit ground feeding - song birds usually use hanging or raised feeders. Try hopper style, ball feeders, tube feeders & mesh feeders. The more feeders - the more birds. Don't forget suet and peanut feeders- they are fun to watch the birds feed at them.
Last Year's Seed. Moths and weevils can bore holes in the seed and eat. If it is full of webs and moths, throw it out. Buy fresh seed. Try putting it out for the critters.
Dirty feeders. Wash your feeders monthly to keep disease from harming your birds. New Feeder Fresh is available to clean feeders or 2 T. bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse. Don't forget the area beneath the feeders. Keep it cleaned up!
Grocery Store seed. (Garden Centers, Drug stores, etc.) There is a difference! Ingredients should not be wheat, milo, barley. Smell the seed - check for offensive odors and webs. Seeds can pick up the odors of fertilizers at garden centers.
Use Sunflowers only. Sunflower is an excellent seed to use, but don't limit yourself. Use safflower, hulled sunflower, thistle, millet in separate feeders. Also use peanut butter & suet. The more variety - the more birds.
Attracting Cardinals to your Yard
The Northern Cardinal is probably the most wanted bird in all backyards. Cardinals never came this far north but the statement "
Feed them and they will come" rang true. It has been in the past 100 years that cardinals are in Minnesota. This is all made
possible by backyard bird feeding. Cardinals are still not in some northern areas of Minnesota but if people feed birds they
may eventually come.
The cardinal is a year round non-migratory resident who resides from the Dakota, Southern Ontario, Nova Scotia,
south to the Gulf Coast and from southern Texas through Arizona and south to Mexico.
In January, Cardinals start to sing from the tree tops to establish their breeding territory. Cardinals will defend their territory
during breeding time – even if they see themselves in a mirror or a window they will try fight themselves to the point of exhaustion.
Some will die.
Cover that area so they can no longer see their reflection.
Both the male and female sing, (which is unusual for birds),
for most of the year.
It is believed that cardinals mate for life but are known to be "unfaithful"- for breeding is their most important job. Mates are
chosen for choosing the best breeding territory which is usually found to be the safest and also for his "looks". The "best looking"
cardinals are chosen first. The redder the better along with a beautiful crest.
Female cardinals begin building their nests in early April with a little help from the males – usually successfully raising 2-3 broods.
Sometimes there are a few failed nestings but cardinals will quickly try again. Their nests are located between 3 to 20 feet above in
dense thickets, trees and thick shrubs. With their nests built so low, there are many predators such as cats and hawks. Cardinals never
nest in bird houses. It takes from 3-9 days to build a loose cup- like nest and after a 6 day rest, 2-5 gray- blue, spotted, dotted
with blotches of grays, browns, and purple eggs appear. Incubation starts after the last egg is laid and hatch in 12-13 days. The female
is on the nest most of the time with the male taking over the feeding so the female can start another nest. He will feed her several
times a day. The male will bring food to the young the first few days. The male is near so he can sing to her and watch for nearby
predators.
Cardinals usually molt in August and September in Minnesota. Cardinals are not around much during this time and will cease
their singing. If you see a black headed, "ugly" looking cardinal, mites have attacked their head feathers. They will grow back but
are unsightly until then. Cardinals are one of the birds that use "anting" as a way to rid their feathers of lice and mites and to
sooth the skin during molting. They allow ants to climb or will rub through their feathers. When the ants are finished their feathers
appear wet.
If cardinals live through the first year – they can live a long life. The max life span is 15 years – 9 months.
Keep a close eye on your cardinals for their behavior change from day to day and from season to season.
As with any backyard bird species, you must provide food, water and shelter. Select a feeder that allows cardinals enough space to perch
and eat. Bird feeders equipped with short perches will not accommodate cardinals. Offer a tube feeder with a tray, or an open platform
(a fly-through) feeder will enable cardinals to feed in your yard. They are considered ground feeders but have adapted to bird feeders.
Bird feeders are most successful in attracting cardinals when placed 8-10’ from trees or other shelter. Cardinal’s two favorite seeds
are black sunflower and safflower but will eat peanuts, millet, and cracked corn. Cardinals are usually the first bird to feed in the
morning and the last to feed at night, because they are ground feeders and with their bright color, feeding at these times are safer.
When cardinals are not at your feeders they eat at least 51 different kinds of insects and 33 kinds of blossoms, seeds and fruits. Offer
mealworm – they are a great source of protein.
Providing a reliable source of open water during all seasons is every bit as attractive to cardinals as food. A variety of heated bird
baths are available or heating elements work well in any bird bath. Try putting a stick in the bottom of the bath jutting up over the
edge of the bath for extra security.
Cardinals need a place to roost in the winter and to nest in the summer. They prefer dense shrubs and coniferous trees such as pines,
dense thickets and small deciduous trees. Using the nest between 3’ to 12’ off the ground with under 10’ being most popular. They usually
nest fairly close to the ground which is why cats are a huge problem for cardinals. In the winter, you may see as many of 10–12 cardinals
dotting the trees, but during nesting season they claim their territories and will not allow too many others in. Toward the end of January,
Cardinals will start to sing from the tops of the tallest trees. Whistle their glorious song back to them and they will begin their
serenade.
A small sampling of bird feeders for cardinals.
Tube Bird Feeders with trays
Hopper Bird Feeders
Fly-Thru Bird Feeders
Arundale Sky Café bird feeder
"The Cardinal Feeder" bird feeder
Wild Bill’s Feeder Bowl type bird feeders
Ground feeding trays
Hanging tray Bird feeders
Bird Stuff Color Dome bird feeder
NoNo Cardinal Feeders
Brome Squirrel Buster Plus
When Purchasing or Building a Nest Box.
-Do not buy a house with a perch. Birds do not need them and they can
attract predators.If your existing house has one - cut it off.
-Must have drainage holes in the bottom and air vents.
-Put a few inches of sawdust in the bottom of chickadee boxes,
hey love to clean some out then nest on top.
-Must have a clean-out.
-Clean and hose out after each nesting.
-Check for quality. If seams are in the center front or in the center of the roof,
it could allow rain to leak in.
Slanted roofs will allow water to run off.
-Put houses away from feeding stations.
-Face houses out of the wind and place them so they will receive the morning sun.
-Keep nest boxes away from predators. The best way to keep raccoon and
cats from gaining access is to place the house on a pole and put a baffle beneath.
-To observe activity in nest boxes, slowly approach the box, knock on the
door to allow the adults to leave and open the box slowly. If babies fall out, put
them back.
-Do not paint the inside of the house. If painting the outside, use drab natural
colors, avoid black or brown.
-Do not treat the inside with chemicals of any kind and any glue used should be
water-soluble and odor free.
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