Where are the cardinals? (1 Viewer)

[msboc]

I'm new to this forum and very glad to have found it. I've been a back yard birder for the past 20 years here in Western Connecticut, so I'm pretty aware of the usual birds and even their general frequency at my feeders. This year I have the usual visitors, but almost no cardinals. Ordinarily I'll have maybe four or five pairs at a time, especially when it snows. Although we had some snow here today, I only saw one lone male Cardinal who ate briefly and then disappeared. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this situation or has read anything about diminishing numbers of this beautiful bird this year.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nutcracker]

At the Vatican? o

I'd guess most likely, that there is a bumper crop of their preferred natural food at your location, so they don't need to come to feeders.

PS welcome to Birdforum! :t:

 

[WTXaviphile]

This afternoon, here on the South Plains of West Texas, with snow covering most of the yard, a male cardinal came to my feeders. First cardinal I've seen in 18 years. Third cardinal I've seen in my life.

Far as I know they are not rare here, it's just that I have not been putting out feed regularly or looking at birds until 3-4 months ago.

This cardinal strikes me as being feeder trained. He quickly made the rounds of all my feeders. Could tell what they were. At a guess he's been in other parts of town where feeders were out and perhaps because of the snow or the holiday he found no food out and decided to roam around and tried my barrio, where ordinarily pickins are lean.

And he's coming back. Back several times in 3 hours.

Do cardinals wander much when they find plenty of food at feeders?

That could be the problem, MSBOC. Other people are feeding them and they stay around those feeders. So you've got to lure them away! Make a better offer.