NORTHERN CARDINAL platform

You can build this basic nesting box in 30 minutes or less. Leave it unfinished or paint it your choice of colors.

To finish this project, I started with a neutral-colored base coat of acrylic paint. I let it dry, then I glazed the entire house with a deep purple glaze. I wiped off the excess glaze and let it dry. Finally, I applied brown antiquing gel to age the platform.

Mount this platform 5′ to 8′ off the ground near or in shrubbery. Black oil sunflower seeds will lure cardinals to your box.

NORTHERN CARDINAL

The Northern cardinal, or red cardinal, was named after the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Males have bright red bodies, legs, feet, bills and crests and black faces. Females are brown tinged with red on their crests, wings and tails. The Northern cardinal is considered medium-size at approximately 8″.

During winter months, cardinals make the rounds at feeders, eating mainly seeds. They eat fruit, buds and insects during the spring breeding season. The Northern cardinal lives in thickets, brushy areas, swamps and residential neighborhoods. It is a year-round resident throughout the United States and southern Canada.

While most birds sing only in the spring, cardinals are impressive songbirds that sing year-round. Females counter-sing with males; they will duet after the males have established territories and before nesting begins.

Cut the parts according to the cutting list. Nail the back to the bottom.

Nail the sides to the bottom and back. Then nail the front the sides and bottom.