The Northern Cardinal is a widely recognized songbird known for its vibrant plumage. While many enjoy their presence, their behavior sometimes leads to conflicts, such as monopolizing feeding stations or repeatedly striking reflective windows. Because this species is protected, any actions taken must focus exclusively on humane, non-harmful deterrence strategies. The goal is to modify the environment to make it less appealing without causing injury or distress.
Adjusting Feeding Stations and Seed Selection
Conflict often centers around backyard bird feeding stations, as cardinals are relatively large songbirds. They show a strong preference for high-fat options like black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn, which their stout beaks easily access. Adjusting the food source is an effective step to encourage them to seek sustenance elsewhere.
Switching to seeds cardinals generally avoid, such as Nyjer (thistle) seed or millet, can reduce their interest in a feeder. Offering safflower seed is a specialized strategy; many cardinals will eat it, but squirrels and certain nuisance birds find it bitter and avoid it. This selective feeding allows smaller birds to enjoy the seed while discouraging cardinals from dominating the station.
Feeder design can be a powerful deterrent. Weight-activated feeders close the feeding ports when a bird exceeds a certain weight threshold. These are often set lower than a cardinal’s average weight, making feeding difficult. Installing tube feeders with small ports and short perches, intended for smaller birds like goldfinches, also makes it physically difficult for a cardinal to access the food comfortably.
If immediate deterrence is needed, temporarily removing all feeding stations for one to two weeks can reset the birds’ foraging habits. This short absence forces them to establish new food sources away from the property. When feeders are reintroduced, they should contain less desirable seed varieties to maintain reduced interest.
Modifying Habitat and Water Sources
Deterring cardinals involves making the environment less attractive for nesting and resting, extending beyond the food supply. Cardinals are ground-nesters that prefer dense vegetation, such as shrubs, low trees, and vine tangles, typically nesting between 3 and 15 feet above the ground. Strategically trimming back dense shrubbery or removing tangled vines near human activity can reduce the appeal of a potential nesting site.
Cardinals require accessible water sources, especially during hot periods. Temporarily removing birdbaths, fountains, or other standing water features during peak times of unwanted presence reduces the resources available. If a water source must remain, positioning it in an open area away from dense cover makes the cardinal feel more exposed and less likely to linger.
Protecting resources like berry bushes or fruit trees requires physical exclusion methods. Erecting fine mesh netting or temporary cages over vulnerable plants prevents cardinals from accessing the ripened fruit. Cardinals often perch in dense foliage near windows before striking the glass, or they may build nests in protected structural areas like eaves or vents. Blocking access points under eaves with wire mesh or hardware cloth prevents structural nesting entirely, eliminating conflict before the birds begin construction.
Using Passive Visual and Physical Barriers
Window strikes are a frequent issue, often occurring because cardinals perceive glass as a continuation of habitat or see their reflection as a rival. The goal of visual deterrence is to break up the reflection so the bird recognizes the obstruction. Applying vertical strips of UV-reflective tape or specialized window decals spaced no more than two to four inches apart is effective.
Decals or tape must be applied to the exterior surface of the window to disrupt the reflection. The closer the vertical spacing, the more reliably the barrier is perceived, preventing collision. Alternatively, installing exterior insect screens over the glass can soften the impact if a strike occurs, often preventing serious injury.
Flash tape, a reflective, holographic ribbon, can be hung from trees or near windows to create flickering light that birds dislike. The movement and shifting light patterns discourage cardinals from approaching the area. These strips should be secured well enough to move in the breeze but not become tangled. Motion-activated sprinklers offer a non-contact physical barrier for deterring cardinals from gardens or lawns. When a bird enters the detection zone, the sudden spray of water and accompanying noise is startling and motivates the bird to leave immediately.
Legal and Humane Deterrence Practices
Any method used to deter the Northern Cardinal must adhere strictly to humane practices and federal law. The Northern Cardinal is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), a federal statute. This protection makes it illegal to trap, injure, or kill the bird, or destroy active nests, eggs, or young without specific governmental permits.
Understanding this legal framework requires that all deterrence efforts focus solely on modifying the environment to encourage the bird to move on naturally. Consistency is important when implementing non-lethal solutions, as cardinals may initially test new barriers or changes. Patience and the continuous application of multiple methods will yield the most successful outcome.