Extreme Cold and the Wildlife

[Carol]

I do hope a lot of you are feeding the birds in this freezing weather.  They are finding it so hard out there in the very low temperatures.  Today it measured -11c midday.  I couldn't believe it but it felt it.  My usual birds were in a feeding frenzy and I had 2 potential casualties.  A Chaffinch lay in the snow so I picked it up and stroked it.  I brought it into the outside porch and whether it was the bit of heat I don't know but it revived a bit and eventually flew from my finger.  Half an hour later  a Starling lay in the snow so I did the same with the Starling.  (what beautiful markings they have).  It revived in the Porch and allowed me to stroke it then flew off.   Poor things, it really is hard out there for them all. 

[Carol]

[Flighty]

I feed them first thing before I have my cup of tea and toast, and again later on as well!  Been changing their water several times daily as it freezes almost immediately.

[rugbypost]

Well done you, its nice to see  everyone  help  all the wild life in this very hard winter went to minus 25 last night here in wales, and then we had a very bad fall of snow again to day thanks for  all the tips about what to feed the birds if we run out  of feed   Merry Christmas to everyone and  a Happy Gardening Newyear

[grannyjanny]

OH feeds the chickens & lets them out, same with the guinea pigs. Feeds the birds & sorts out the water for them all.  I make porridge for the chickens & I am chicken sitting for our neighbours so I make them some too. Then he has his first cup of coffee & really enjoys it.  A bit later on I chop up apples for them. I was sent to the local shop today for more apples but they will be reduced tomorrow so I will stock up then. Got some reduced potatoes so they can have those too. If everyone did a little it would save a lot of birds.

[Obelixx]

It's the first thing I do when  go downstairs.  The feeders get topped up so there's some non frozen peanuts and fat balls and I put fresh seed down on the ground.  We've had so much snow here I've ended up putting ground food out in two square plastic planters turned on their side with the open end downwind from the falling snow.   Water freezes instantly but we have a stream nearby so that's OK.

The result is loads of sparrows, assorted tits, chaffinches, blackbirds, robins, woodpeckers, wrens and a few small birds I don't recognise.   No greenfinches though for 2 years.  What happened to them?

[pumkinlover]

It's the first thing I do when  go downstairs.  The feeders get topped up so there's some non frozen peanuts and fat balls and I put fresh seed down on the ground.  We've had so much snow here I've ended up putting ground food out in two square plastic planters turned on their side with the open end downwind from the falling snow.   Water freezes instantly but we have a stream nearby so that's OK.

The result is loads of sparrows, assorted tits, chaffinches, blackbirds, robins, woodpeckers, wrens and a few small birds I don't recognise.   No greenfinches though for 2 years.  What happened to them?

Thats a good idea for the food.

Greenfinches have been affected by a disease which gets spread at bird feeders which is why we are asked to clean our feeders. i am sure someone will have more information about it!

[Carol]

I used to have a lot of greenfinches as well.  I still have them, but at the most its around 8 of them feeding. 

[SamLouise]

I spent a ridiculous amount of money on bird food this weekend, hehehe.  It's the first thing I do when I get to work (even before I take the phones off divert. Priorities, priorities! ;D) I've put out hangers of seeds, nuts and fatballs in several different places and this morning threw down an entire bag of suet and an entire tub of mealworms as I have my regular robins, chaffs and blackbirds down there.  All the little birds are flitting on and off the hanging food all day long, they never stop, bless them. Looked out of the office window on Friday and spotted a pheasant having a munch too :D The birds seem to know what time I arrive for work in the morning as there seems to be loads of them all sitting in the tree across the road singing really loudly as if to say, 'she's here, spread the word!' LOL.

Well done, Carol for helping those two little birds get back on their feet again :) :) 

[Obelixx]

Our house is isolated so visiting greenfinches come form nearby woods and scrub.  As far as I can tell the only other "feeder" in the area is a wheelbarrow parked permanently under the horse grain silo at the riding school and farm across the way.    They have no greenfinches either but loads of sparrows and tits.

[Carol]

I get the feeling the birds know you are coming home!!   ::) ::)  When I return from the shops late afternoon I see the Blackbirds flying towards our house from all directions.  (am not daft)   ::)   Before the light went tonight I counted 16 blackbirds in my garden all sat puffed up in the trees and they watched me putting down their supper.   Then I watched them from indoors.  At darkness I still had a blackbird sitting on my back doorstep eating the left over seed.   

[pumkinlover]

I was driving around Derbyshire countryside yesterday (one of the best aspects of my job!-well mostly) and have never seen the birds so close up. Kestrel was out hunting at 16.30 (dusk) when I was coming home, saw abut 5 kestrels in all, and a  crow chasing a buzzard. I think the birds must be getting so desperate that they are out for a lot longer just trying to get en ought to survive.  Unfortunately my driving gets a bit distracted at times!

At home we have fieldfares and more blackbirds than I have ever seen feeding on the windfalls I leave around for them.  It is first Time I have seen Fieldfare in garden as we are in town centre- however small town so about 1.5 miles away from rural area.  I am so glad we had a good apple crop and we have an ample sufficiency and plenty left for the birds. :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm a mile from the centre of Birmingham; we get redwings every year, but I've never seen fiedfares. I'll keep my eyes open when the snow melts. When it's like this we get long-tailed tits and sometimes goldcrests on the trees outside; the cover is nothing like thick enough for them normally.

Many birds are going to be desperate in this; a lot of species have a very high mortality as they can't reach their food under the snow and ice, and keeping warm takes a lot more energy than normal.

On the other hand, it's good for native insects, and any species which hibernates.

[Little Bee]

i have to go to my allotment daily to feed the chickens and give them some luke warm water.
I always leave some food on the table for the robin and blackbird which sits and waits for my arrival :)
Saw the Barn owl today too which is unusual midday,a sign that he/she must be hungry,was sooo glad though to see it after the recent bad weather.
Was almost mild weather here today!! ;D

[pumkinlover]

barn owl -so handsome!!! only ever seen one once on hols in suffolk.

Just seen first redwings in garden, spent a magical half hour at bottom of garden in the summer house(ha ha! :-\) wataching them as they stay down there where the apples are.

Do you remember a GW programme where a lovely "older lady" had a steep garden which she looked after on her own despite having seen many summers and winters.  She had a summer house at the top of her steep garden and she had an electric blanket so after a sesion in the garden she stayed up there for a little rest with the blanket to keep warm. So I have been tucked up under an electric blanket watching the redwings- briiliant ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Barn owls can't feed in snow as the small mammals they eat are underneath it. The bird was probably starving.

[Froglegs]

I used to have a lot of greenfinches as well.  I still have them, but at the most its around 8 of them feeding. 

I get greenfinches and goldfinches but only the odd sparrow :(

[pumkinlover]

Barn owls can't feed in snow as the small mammals they eat are underneath it. The bird was probably starving.

That's what I was meaning in my first post Robert, I think we are seeing the birds more because they are having to spend more time hunting!  Hopefully the milder weather will improve their chances.

Saw loads of sparrows today on my travels- I just love them so cheerful!!

Anne x