The Best Ways to Attract Cardinals to Your Yard This Winter
Cardinals are one of the most prized backyard birds because of their vibrant colors, and they are even more fun to see in the winter when the landscape is often gray and monotonous. Since cardinals don’t migrate, they’re still here in the winter, and if you know what they like, you can watch them forage even when it’s cold outside. There are several ways to attract these backyard beauties, so here are some tips on how to bring them into your yard.
Plants That Attract Cardinals
Cardinals typically prefer evergreen trees and shrubs for nesting because the dense foliage provides them with safe cover year-round. They may build their nest on thicker branches to reduce wind chill and protect their nest from the elements. Evergreen branches not only help cardinals stay warm during the winter months, but also provide important cover from predators such as hawks who might otherwise easily spot their bright red plumage when the leaves fall from the trees. Having a few evergreen shrubs or trees can provide a good nesting site for cardinals.
What to feed cardinals in winter
During the winter, cardinals need foods higher in fat and protein to keep them warm. Since they don’t have as many choices as food, feeding them seeds and other foods rich in protein and fat will help attract them to your yard as well as keep them healthy through the winter. Black butter sunflower seeds or cardinals mix , containing millet, cracked corn and peanuts, as well as sunflower seeds, help keep cardinals healthy.
Feed constantly
Cardinals are creatures of habit, so keeping bird feeders stocked in winter is key to attracting the birds. Once the cardinals recognize your feeder as a consistent source of nutrients, they will begin to return to feed regularly. Birds will remember this location and will likely return year after year once they learn about your feeder. You’ll have a better chance of attracting birds if your feeders are full. You may also want to check your feeders for excess moisture or ice when it’s cold outside, as the drainage holes may become clogged with ice and the birdseed may freeze.
Where to place the feeder
Placing the feeder in an accessible and safe location is important to ensuring cardinals return. The feeder should be located high enough off the ground to make it more difficult for predators such as house cats to reach it, and close enough to dense brush or trees to make it easy for birds to reach. If you think you have an area in your yard where cardinals would like to nest, such as a dense evergreen plant away from normal foot traffic, placing a bird feeder nearby is a good way to attract the birds. If possible, place the feeder under the cover of overhanging branches to make them feel safer from birds of prey and also keep them dry.
What type of feeder do you need?
Because cardinals need to keep an eye on their food, choose a tray-style feeder so they can feed while remaining aware of their surroundings. Tray feeders also often come with a lid to keep the feed and birds dry, and this is an especially good idea if you don’t have space with overhanging branches to place the feeder.