Beauty and Elegance in Your Backyard - Cardinals

One of the most friendly and sociable birds known to Northern Indiana is the Northern Cardinal. They feed with the other smaller birds in our winter yard. We put out mostly sunflower seed for them, as well as another feeder with thistle seed for chickadees and other smaller birds.

One interesting fact about cardinals I found in a little history of this bird goes back to the 1800's. At that time, cardinals were bought and placed in cages and valued highly for their color and song. They were trapped in the south in winter and sent to northern markets and also to Europe. With the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, this trade fortunately ended. They are beautiful and their song is so precious, but they are not meant to be caged.

Just look around your backyard in the winter, and if you have feeders out for the larger birds, you will probably see a bright red cardinal against the winter-white snow. They actually can brighten your cold winter days and help you to happily survive until spring.

Just the other day, I looked out and saw a female cardinal perched on the small-bird feeder just outside our breakfast-nook window. There were probably six to eight sparrows and chickadees feasting around her. She sat there and did not bother the small birds at all. She appeared quite regal, and yet as humble as a mother hen watching her chicks. The female is a little less noticeable; it has some red around its head, on its wing tips and its beak is red. Other than that, it is mostly a kind of light brown.

During the deep snows of Canada and the northeastern United States, Cardinals remain at their homes all through winter. Their nest is a cup set low in shrubbery and contains three to four light green eggs. The newly-hatched birds are buff in color. They like to nest in thickets and brushy areas, edges and clearings, riparian woodlands, parks and residential areas.

Cardinals like a tray feeder with flat spaces where they can perch. They do not like to use the round perches found on tube feeders. Even hopper feeders with a wide rim around the hopper works fine for them.

Give the cardinals the seeds they want - sunflowers. In some yards, cardinals also relish safflower seeds - the white shiny seeds shaped like footballs. The birds may not be too keen to try them, though.

Cardinals like plenty of natural cover near and around feeders so they can escape if they feel threatened. Though they use both deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, coniferous are best because they're evergreen and provide year-round cover.

Below are some Cardinal facts:

The cardinal was named after the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.

As a northern cardinal matures, its bill changes color. A young cardinal has a blackish bill, which becomes bright orange or red as an adult.

The oldest cardinal on record lived to be 15 years old.

Male cardinals are highly aggressive during breeding season. They will attack their own reflection for hours to protect their territories.

Cardinals have only one mate through one entire season.

Cardinals are not migratory, and will stay in your yard through summer and winter if you feed them and have trees and shrubs for nesting and cover.

Sources:

http://www.americanbirdguide.com/cardinal.shtml
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/norcar/
http://www.ohio-nature.com/northern-cardinal.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/birds/northerncardinals/index.html
Birds & Blooms Magazine (Extra), January 2009, "In Love With Cardinals," pp. 32-33