Cardinal Bird Feeder

I live in the Midwest and enjoy feeding the birds. I feed sunflower seeds, suet cakes, thistle, and sugar water. I also have a bird bath. I get a nice variety of cardinals, sparrows, chickadees, finches, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and even an occasional duck — but is there something could offer to bring in rarer birds? Like Orioles? Bluebirds? Doves? More? I live near a creek, greenway and several large, heavily wooded parks.
Thanks — all your answers are great; I’ll give them a try. Unfortunately, I can’t leave a thumbs up — "Pollice verso" — for all of you as a "Level 1," but if I could, I would.

I have a house in town. It has a bunch of old growth trees. We used to have Cardinals, Blue jays, Woodpeckers. and squirrels come around. Now we have a couple of stupid hawks picking off the birds and small critters. I know they have to eat but not in my backyard. I also have a small dog that I’m worried about. How do I get rid of the hawks?

I have: Carolina Chickadees, Northern Mockingbirds, Northern Cardinals, Tufted titmice, Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, American Robins, Chipping sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Red-bellied woodpeckers, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch I named Nutty.
Let me guess what you have: Lots of robins, House sparrows, Grackles (blackbirds), Starlings (blackbirds), mourning doves, American goldfinches, and house finches .

How do I get rid of flocks of black birds?

I have two poles with a total of 8 feeders on them. For the first few weeks of May & June, I had cardinals, gold finches, Downy woodpeckers, purple house finches, nuthatches and chickadees.

But all of a sudden the grackles and starlings took over and all I ever see are occasional blue jays who aren’t afraid of the "black plague."

Is there a way to selectively get rid of certain birds? I use a variety of feed including safflower. Peanuts and sunflower seeds are gone in one day. Shiny, sparkling things up in the trees have no effect. I don’t want to put up a fake owl as I will get NO birds!

So, now what?

This is getting expensive!
I live in a residential neighborhood so I don’t dare use all the fire power suggested.
MsLucy!

I didn’t invite the black birds. Until this year, after 20 or so years of feeders, all the birds were the "nice" variety. Many colors, songs, etc. Hummingbirds too.

I think the black birds weasled their way in here.

My idea was that maybe someone knew of seed combination that they couldn’t stand.
Don’t get so bent out of shape!

I moved about 2 years ago and started feeding the birds shortly after that. I had a nice mixture of birds… chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, juncos, blue jays, cardinals, gold finches (lots of them). So this summer I increased the number of bird feeders and types of food that I offer… thistle, black oil and mixed (each in their separate feeder). I also have suet & a ‘suet ball’ from the meat department out there.

I’ve always had a bunch of birds and now… I’m lucky if I see a couple of nuthatches and woodpeckers a day! What in the heck happened? Any ideas and/or suggestions for what I should do?
YES birds do fly South… BUT the birds that I specifically mentioned do not leave Pennsylvania for the winter! I fed these birds last winter and this summer!

My grandfather bird feeders have bluebirds,cardinals,yellow birds,goldfinches,woodpeckers,blackbirds,chickadees,titmouses,mowckingbirds,finches,doves,wren,snowbirds,robins etc. but he has 4 cages which you put blocks or cakes in of food and he has 3 feeders normally there is an average of 15 birds at his feeders sometimes more than 40 but you hardly ever see the trees without birds he uses various kinds of cakes but the same feed about 3 weeks ago i put up some feeders and he keeps telling me that i will get the various types of birds but so far i have only gotten chickadees,titmouses,doves,woodpeckers,snowbirds,and 1 purple finch but i have 3 cages for cakes and 2 feeders i use the same feed and everything but i cant seem to get the variety of birds i see bluebirds setting on our powerlines but not eating and about a mile or less behind our house where we ride 4 wheelers there is cardinal galore about 20-30 in fields next to a wooded area i need a variety of birds please i need tips

I live with my parents in Northeast Ohio. We live in the woods, and we have been feeding the birds. There are male and female woodpeckers, red birds which i think are cardinals, and brown ones big and small. they were everywhere. But now they are gone. We did have a huge wind storm a few days ago. and i noticed today that all the birds are gone. why. where did they go?

I have a bird feeder that i keep full at all times with black oiled sunflower seeds with a mixture of some other seeds (and with dried cherries in it ) i just bought a mixture. Well my real question is i also have a suet feeder and for some reason the birds stop eating it? I have tried different brands but they just dont seem to want it. should i just give up on it? i thought about emptying the plastic container and replacing it with some peanut butter and seed mixed. Is that ok? Is there a certain brand of peanut butter i need to use? I also want to put out some bird houses for this spring. What kind do i need? I have a few woodpeckers around. i have Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, and Chickadees. i have seen a few Jays but i try to keep them away because they bully the others. What kind of houses or boxes do i need? Any advice is appreciated. Even if it has nothing to do with my questions.

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I am a senior citizen, diabetic and wonder if breathing in the air on the deck is dangerous? I clean up with a broom and shovel almost daily the seed they throw over the side. I live in the country side not in town. Please advise.
I do have the seuit cakes out and have three or four different woodpeckers come. I am glad to share what I have with Mother Nature. I can see them from my favorite kitchen chair. Especially feed in winter I like to feed. Thanks everybody.