How do I get Red Cardinals?

Question

How do I get Red Cardinals and song birds to visit my yard and feeder. I put out seed with fruit and berries. I also change feeder and clean ( water cleaning only) out old seeds. I also have water set out

Answer 1

Two questions; how recently did you put your feeder up? and are the seeds disappearing? If they're going down, then birds are visiting your feeder. Word will get around there is food for them in your yard.
It does take a little time for birds to find a new feeder.
You didn't state what type seed you are putting in your feeder. I used to buy the mix; millet, sunflower seeds and a lot of other types of seed. I changed to sunflower seeds only and mix the nut & berry with it. They all seem to like it much better.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Sounds like you are on the right track. Cardinals and lots of other song birds are somewhat jumpy and fearful of their surroundings. They are basically ground feeders but will gladly use large feeders. Make sure you keep plenty of sunflower seed in your feed.Keep your feeders somewhat in the open if possible. A great place to put Cardinal feeders is near but not in a pine tree so they may perch in the tree and feed on the ground. Another thing is don't feel like you need to change your water and feed every ! Use enough of both to last a couple of days if possible so you don't scare of the birds your trying so hard to attract,you want them in your yard and not in the neighbors! They will come to feed where they feel safe and have good food available! One more thing,I would encourage you to feed all year round and not just in the winter. I have been enjoying the sight and sounds of birds in my yard for many years and so can you! Good luck!

Answer 3

If you haven't put out sunflower seeds, try some. In my experience, I have much better luck with black oil sunflower seeds that the wild bird mix, fruit, suet, bread, etc. I even experimented with them over a 6 acre field and several feeders and the sunflower seeds win out everytime.
Take a look here and participate in Feb, if you can:http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ it's a lot of fun.

While you're waiting for the birds to come to your feeder you can watch the bird feeder cam here:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/news/feedercam/
You can even control the camera!
Good Luck!

Answer 4

Keep the bird feeder. It'll take them a couple of days to find it. After they find it, you'll get lots of male cardinals(and female cardinals, and house sparrows, and finches, and ....)

Answer 5

In time they will find the food and the water, just be patient. They may already be visiting and you may not know it.