Winter is upon us in full force. Only 78
days until spring arrives! A combination of sleet and snow can make many food
sources impossible to reach for many of the wild birds in mid Missouri. In
normal winter conditions, most birds have ways of coping with the cold. To help
survive cold nights, Chickadees can lower their normal 108-degree body
temperature by 12-15 degrees to conserve energy. By dawn, they, like many
birds, will quickly dart to a food source to fill their empty stomachs. That is
why early morning and late evenings are some of the ‘largest crowds’ at bird
feeders. Because most normal food sources are now either ice encrusted or
covered by snow, wild birds need and greatly benefit by mid Missouri residents
feeding them during times like this.
A good thing to feed the wild birds is
hi-energy foods like black oil sunflower seeds, tree nut pieces and suet that
give birds more energy per ounce consumed. While any food is better than
nothing, there is problems with cheap mixes full of oats and wheat or things
like bread and cereal that people sometimes throw on the snow. These foods are
not only low in energy, they are also the favorites of nuisance, non-native
birds like Starlings and English Sparrows that compete, not only for food, but
also nesting cavities that many native birds utilize in winter to stay warm. Several
Central Missouri songbirds like Bluebirds and Chickadees often sleep in groups
on extremely cold nights in cavities or nest boxes transferring heat from one
body to the next. It is not uncommon for 6-9 Bluebirds to emerge from one box.
A challenge of feeding suet is that Starlings love it. Feed suet in upside down
suet feeders and hang them high as Starlings have a hard time hanging upside
down to feed and Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, and other
desirable songbirds can easily hang upside down for feeding.
One need of wild birds often overlooked
by consumers in cold weather is the need for ‘open water’. The main reason
water is needed is for them to keep warm, birds fluff out their feathers so
they can better capture a ‘layer of air’ that acts as heated insulation.
Matted, dirty feathers can’t be fluffed out, making a bird feel much like how a
human feels that wears a down insulated jacket that’s all matted up and not very
warm. That is why they need water throughout winter to bathe as well as drink. There
are many birdbath heaters and heated birdbaths for as little or less that $20
to help keep water available for wild birds and cost pennies per day in
electricity to run.
Does the weather keep you from getting
out to your feeders? Just fling a spray of black oil seeds or a good quality
wild bird mix out of a bucket or trash can and let it fly out across the top of
the snow. Dozens of your feathered friends will soon add brilliant flashes of
red and blue, and gray and white across the snow and you’ll hear their
melodious songs as they sing ‘thanks’ to you for helping them survive.
If you can tolerate the cold weather, there are a number of things that
you can do this month in your landscape that will lighten your workload for the
rest of the season. The main item is pruning or thinning of your woody
ornamentals. Deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, ash, etc., can be pruned at
this time. Interior, broken, or crossing branches should be removed now while
you can see exactly what you are removing. The general rule of thumb is that
you should not touch spring flowering trees and shrubs at this time of year.
If the weather is extremely bad this month, then snow and/or ice removal
are going to be the big tasks. Heavy accumulations of snow or ice can easily
damage plants. Dump a snow shovel full of wet snow on top of some of your
shrubs and you may end up replacing the broken mass next spring. Snow plows can
also do quite a bit of damage to plantings and lawn areas. Use location stakes
with flags to show where your driveways and walkways are as well as where to
“dump” excess snow. If you have to deal with ice, be extremely careful with the
melting compound you use. Rock salt is the most widely used compound and it has
the least temperature range for its effectiveness. In addition, rock salt will
destroy concrete sidewalks, driveways, and concrete pavers. It will also kill
most shrubs, perennials, and lawns. There are many other compounds used for
melting ice that won’t damage your concrete or kill your plants. I recommend calcium
chloride or potassium chloride products.
If you choose to use these, please read the labels thoroughly. Some work
in very low temperatures, but are harmful to pets and wildlife. Others only
work when the temperature is between 20 and 32 degrees. You can also use
products such as birdseed, sawdust, and non-clumping cat litter to provide
traction. Of course, these will not melt the ice, but they will not kill your
plants, pets, or concrete.
Time flies fast, so enjoy this winter
preparing for spring, and we will “See you in the garden.”
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
