Do Cardinals Enjoy Bird Baths? 6 Tips for Creating a Redbird Oasis

Cardinals are common birds in North America. They are easy to spot. Male cardinals are bright red, while their female counterparts are orange and brown with pink bills. They also often travel together, so if you see one, there is likely another close by.

Like most songbirds, cardinals love bird baths. They love bathing and playing in the water. If you’re looking to attract more colorful songbirds, like the vibrant red cardinal, there are a few things you can do to make your yard and bird bath more appealing.

Continue reading to discover six tips for creating a redbird oasis. With these tips, it’ll be strange to not see a cardinal or two every day.

1. Provide Stepping Stones

Birds love to have an area to perch, even when they are enjoying a bird bath. A great way to attract cardinals and other birds to your yard is by adding stepping stones inside the water. This way, birds have a chance to hop along the water without submerging themselves. Sometimes, birds just want a drink of water, not to be dunked.

It’s best to choose smooth and colorful stones/rocks. Birds are attracted to bright and shiny colors. It’s a lot easier for them to see a pink or green stone than a white or clear stone in the water.

2. Clean The Water and Bowl Frequently

Also on our list of tips for creating a redbird oasis is keeping the water and bowl clean and full. You’d be surprised just how quickly water disappears from a bird bath. To keep them coming, check the water levels every day. The water should be shallow. If the water is too high, birds can drown. While cardinals are larger birds, bird baths attract many species, including small birds like the tufted titmouse.

Bird baths are meant for birds to feel clean and cool during hot weather. This means that the water gets pretty filthy, especially if you also provide them with bird seeds. It’s best to rinse and clean your bird bath every two days. You may need to clean it more frequently if the water is milky or muddy. Instead of using harsh chemicals to clean your bird bath, use nine parts water and one part vinegar.

3. Keep Food Farther Away

If you don’t want the hassle of a dirty bird bath, keep the seeds away. Bird feeders are a great way to attract cardinals to your yard. They love seeds and often return multiple times on the same day for a snack. Although bird feeders are a great way to attract birds and create a cardinal oasis in your garden, it’s so easy for seeds to drop all over your yard and in the bird bath.

If you’re going to add a bird feeder to your garden, keep it at least ten feet away from your bird bath. Even then, there is a chance that seeds will make their way into the bath. It’s also best to install the bird feeder somewhere you don’t mind cleaning up bird seed mix. You may even end up with volunteer sunflowers and grains.

4. Design it Under Shade

Bird baths are supposed to be refreshing and relaxing. Another way to attract and keep cardinals coming back to your garden is by installing the bird bath in a semi-shady area. If you live in a super sunny spot, the sun can uncomfortably heat up the water. It also doesn’t last and evaporates quickly. This is a trick tip because if you place a bird bath in a shady area underneath a tree, the water can get dirty quickly from falling debris. Still, the mess is worth it.

5. Consider Adding Moving Water

Moving water can also attract birds like cardinals to your garden. This also helps get rid of pests like mosquitos. Mosquitos love stagnant and still water. To avoid breeding mosquitos, use a water fountain or moving water effect in your bird bath. The movement also interests birds. With this addition, you’ll see cardinals splashing around in no time.

6. Use Bright Colors

Last but not least on our list of tips for creating a redbird oasis, is to utilize bright colors. It’s so easy for a bird bath to blend in and confuse birds. How will they know it’s there if it’s just a flat brown or tan pan? Instead, install a colorful bird bath to pique the interest of birds. This way, they can see it even from above while flying.

If you don’t have a colorful bird bath, you can add color around it to attract cardinals. Use things that move with the wind like wind spinners and sculptures.