Cold weather and birds

Takethedogalong

Just a little reminder to help out our feathered friends in this icy cold snap. They still need water, so putting out something unfrozen a couple of times a day will help out. We use warm (not boiling) water poured into our bird bath a couple of times a day.

Oneputt

Good point TDA.  If you start doing it you must keep doing it until the big thaw. We break the ice on the pond a couple of times a day and the birds seem to enjoy it.

By the same token, if you do feed the birds you must continue to do so, if you stop it could induce starvation.

KENNYG

In science many years ago, we did a freeze test with hot and cold water the hot water freezes first, and yes we do put feed down and water.

 

Takethedogalong

Don't matter how you do it, whatever works for you and the birdies! We put out a lot of those nest pockets as well, often have wrens and tits sheltering in them. Anything that helps

neveramsure

We always provide plenty of food but neglect the frozen water TDA.

I will have to keep an eye on the water, thanks for the reminder.

 

PS

We have a woodpecker on the feeder at this moment.

Takethedogalong

Lucky you Nevers. It sometimes fetches more unusual birds to feed at tables. We are hoping our little Nuthatch puts in a visit!

ABM

I've  taken  to  emptying  the  bird bath  at  dusk  to  avoid  it  freezing,  but  the  feeders  get  re-filled  at  the  same  time  so  there's  food  available  for  the  early  birds  --  which  I  certainly  ain't  in  this  weather !!

huskydog

I float a polystyrene ball in the birdbath ,tends to stop the water freezing ,as it constantly moves unless it is really cold 

EasyT

I normally find that there is water available on a manhole cover adjacent to one of our feeders as the relative warmth of the manhole chamber beneath tends to thaw any snow quickly and be less prone to freezing

Wherenext

Had some Redwings visit this afternoon on some apples that we cut in quarters and put out. Don't like doing that so often as it can bring them to the attention of the local Sparrowhawk. But even they have to eat.

It's important to try to clean the birdbath or watering hole as well as unfortunately some of the feathered ones do not have the best toilet training!

HelenandTrevor

Timely reminder ttda, I have been out every morning topping up the feeders and making sure unfrozen water available.  Don't get many unusual birds but at least I can keep the few that come well fed. 

Takethedogalong

I have found some old nuts in a plastic container in our pantry, not bad, but not as fresh as we like them, so I shall be chopping these up tomorrow, perhaps with some dried fruit, and treating our (almost pet) blackbirds. They sit and chunter at us if we don't move along quick enough!

I love birds, such lovely little creatures.

ABM

Your  second  comment  is  also  one  of  the  reasons  I  empty  the  birdbath  WN,  as  you  say  they'll  poop  anywhere  

ValDa

Hang the feeders, and apples, and anything else inside a hedge.  It allows lots of small birds to eat under cover, the sparrow hawk won't see them around the feeder and will go elsewhere.  I often think our old-style - in the open - feeders were like a take-away for birds of prey!  After finding more than one pile of feathers in the garden we started hanging everything inside our beech hedge - and feeding the ground feeders at the base of the hedge.   Now we don't have anything other than a red kite drifting over, and they're not interested in the feeding birds.

ABM

Red  Kites  are  weedy  creatures  despite  their  size.  That's  more  or  less  why  they  are,  in  the  main,  scavengers  apart  from  the  occasional  juicy  worm  so  long  as  its  not  big enough  to  fight  back  !! 

SteveL

The Blackbirds in our garden do not normally bother much with the feeders as they find enough grubs, berries, plus apples we put out to satisfy there needs. However, as this winter has been so much harder than recent years, natures supply must have run out. They have been regular visitors particularly going for the mealworms embedded in the fat block and even the peanuts.

mickysf

One group of birds that will suffer from the Beast from the East are those recent 'exotic' species which have arrived on our shores from warmer climes in the last couple of decades or so.

EasyT

My father in law used to have a regular stream of blackbirds, thrushes , pheasants and robins come to his back door for a morning feed the robins in particular would hop onto the end of a kitchen table for hand feeding. Usually repeated at lunch time and there was always food by the door as well as hanging feeders by the kitchen window.

SteveL

The male Blackbirds seem to have declared a cold weather truce. Either that or it is just too cold for territorial disputes. They seem to be sharing the bird feeders.😀

SteveL

The cold is certainly providing a lot to look at. We rarely see a Starling in the garden, let alone on the feeders. A few minutes ago it was covered by a whole flock. Amazing sight. Unfortunately they did not stop long enough for me to get a picture. I think it might need restocking.

ABM

Might  get  a  second  chance  this  w/end  SteveL  --  not  as  cold { thank  Evans  }  but  still  liable  to  freeze  the  bird  baths  and  bring customers  to the  tables.