Cardinals need a little TLC

Short neck of a female cardinal

Question
Cardinals are my favorite bird. I have a tube feeder and I fill it with sunflower seeds. But the cardinals never come to the feeder. I see other birds but no cardinals. What's wrong? Help!

Answer
I sympathize with your plight. Cardinals are the favorite of almost every backyard birdwatcher. Fortunately they are one of the most frequently seen birds in this area, according to the 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count.

Before we begin, we need to have a little anatomy lesson about the cardinal. Cardinals have short necks. They prefer to eat their food head-ons whereas most other backyard birds are able to turn their necks to reach seed ports on tube feeders. Cardinals need a little encouragement.

There are several options that should solve your problem.

If you have a tube feeder made by Droll Yankees, you can buy special perches designed specifically for cardinals. Their Perch Ring simply slips onto the perches on your tube feeder. The Versa Perch attaches to the base of the feeder.

Versa Perch is designed for cardinals

Another possibility for a Droll Yankees feeder is to attach a try onto the bottom of the feeder. We carry two sizes: 7½ inches in diameter and 10½ inches. Cardinals will feel comfortable using either one.

(To find out if your tube feeder is made by Droll Yankees, simply check the lid. It will be embossed with the company's name.)

If your feeder isn't made by Droll Yankees, try the Seed Hoop, a netlike device that is easily hung from any tube feeder. The Seed Hoop catches seed spilled by other birds; the cardinal simply perches on the Seed Hoop to feed. It also works with hopper-style feeders. (The Seed Hoop has another advantage: It keeps seed from spilling onto your lawn.)

The Seed Hoop comes in two sizes: 16 inches in diameter and 24 inches in diameter. We carry both but usually the 16-inch size is fine for most feeders. 

You have one more option. You can buy a ground feeding station. It is a separate standing unit that stands about 6 inches above the ground. A mesh bottom lets rainwater pass through. Cardinals have no trouble at all feasting from this feeder. 

Seed Hoop attached to a hopper feeder

(Keep in mind that a ground feeder is welcome territory for squirrels. You can deter them by using safflower seed or shelled sunflower chips coated with hot pepper powder or liquid. Safflower is one of the cardinal's favorite food; most songbirds, including cardinals, will readily eat hot pepper seed. They have few taste buds and they stomach the spicy seed. Squirrels find safflower to be bitter, and they won't eat seed coated with hot pepper unless they are desperate for food. They'll probably pay for that later.)

So those are your options. Each one works. Please visit the store and we'll be glad to offer advice on we can meet your needs.