They eat as much as possible and go for the fattiest foods. They need food that provide high calories such as black oil sunflower, safflower, peanuts and suet.
When birds cannot eat any more, they rest to conserve energy and puff out. With food in their belly, metabolism generates heat. Feathers keep the cold out and by puffing the down feathers, body heat is trapped. Woodpeckers are at a disadvantage as they have no down feathers that trap heat. The rely on food supply along with their feathers that keep out the cold.Birds move to the opposite side of the tree when wind blows to protect themselves. On cold sunny days, they will move to a sunny perch. Nights are often spent in evergreens which provide some protection from wind.
Birds may flock together. Being part of a crowd may make individuals less vulnerable to predation. More birds equal more eyes looking out for danger. Plus in a crowd, you only have to be faster than the bird next to you to avoid a hungry hawk.
To help the birds during this extreme cold, we should provide a continuous supply of food. Fill feeders in the evening or early in the morning so birds have food when they wake up. A tremendous amount of energy is spent during the night generating heat to stay warm and survive.
In the morning, they are looking for a refill. If possible, fill feeders during the day so there is a constant supply.
The Bird House has plenty of seed for this time of year. Stock up - your feathered friends will thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment