">http-equiv="Content-Type"><title>Have you ever thought ofhow wild birds can handle the cold weather? Another day I was having mybreakfast watching the birds from my window and this thought came to mymind.During the cold wintermonths we use blankets and stay indoors where we have heat. What aboutthe birds? I decided to do a search through the internet to get someknowledge about these little creatures that look so fragile. I learneda lot of things and now I would like to share them with you.
I learned that they don’tneed us humans to help them survive; just like most animals, they candefend themselves against the harsh cold weather. Some birds migrateduring the winter season to places with warmer temperatures. Usuallythe birds that migrate are insect eating and they have to migratebecause the insects dormant in the winter.
The other birds that eatberries, fruits and seeds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches,grosbeaks, finches, redpolls, crossbills, snow buntings, cardinals,waxwings, magpies, jays, ravens, crows, house sparrows, and starlingsstay in the cold winter.
Birds eat continuouslyduring the winter to store up fat. They use this extra fat at night tocreate heat. When birds don’t find a bird feeder with sunflower seeds,safflower seeds, suet or peanuts they eat berries from the trees suchas holly, hawthorn, crab apple, birch and elder. These threes producesmall red berries which are an emergency source of food for birds inthe winter time.
If you decide to help yourfeathered friends this winter, provide them with a bird feeder. Lookfor feeders that have drain holes to keep the seeds dry after the rainor after a harsh snowy weather. If you have an open bird feeder, keepyour feeder under your porch or in a location that you know the seedswill be dry and the wind will not blow the seeds away. Just keep inmind that open bird feeders attract squirrels and they will enjoy thebird’s food too.
Some suggestions forsquirrel proof bird feeders are the Absolute II Squirrel ProofBirdfeeder, the Birdseed Vault II Squirrel Proof Feeder and the SuperStop-A-Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. They are made of durable metal whichcan resist harsh weather and keep the squirrels out of the bird food.They have drain holes to keep the seeds dry. They also have anadjustable perch so you can watch your favorite birds eating theirscrumptious meal. The adjustable perches allow you to set the weight soyou can choose if a larger bird will be able to access the bird seeds.
Birds grow additionalfeathers in the fall which fluff up and create pockets of warm air nextto the skin. The feathers are used as insulation to keep them warmduring the cool days and cold nights and to protect them from gettingwet when it rains or snows. They also help to keep their eggs and theirlittle ones warm. Their feathers can be used as camouflage to protectthemselves against predators.
A way to protect the birdsfrom getting wet and cold would be by providing a bird house to keepthem warm. A bird house is a safe place to lay their eggs, raise theirbabies and to protect them against predators.
To attract birds to yourbird house you should place a bird house in the right spot such aslarge trees, (Preferably 15 feet above the ground.) on a metal pole farfrom bird feeders and under the eaves of your house. The reason toplace a bird house far from a bird feeder is because the food canattract predators such as cats, chipmunks, cowbirds, crows, falcons,grackles, hawks, jays, owls, raccoons, roadrunners, snakes, andsquirrels who will eat the bird food, make the birds food and even eatthe little birds before and after they hatch.
Birds have a unique way tonest that’s different from other birds. When positioning your birdhouse in your yard or garden do a search to find out how to attractyour favorite birds. Songbirds such as white-throated sparrow, paintedbunting, northern cardinal, like to nest in shrub style vegetation.Other birds such as the pine warbler, yellow-throated warbler,chickadees, prefer to nest 15 feet above the ground. Birds such asbluebirds and the nuthatches prefer to nest in a abandoned woodpeckerholes.
When buying a bird houselook for the ones that have a natural look to them. Birds like birdhouses that resemble nature over a bird house with a fresh coat ofpaint. I recommend taking a look at our natural looking bird houses.The El Madrid Bird House and the Seville Bird House are modeled afterSpanish styled homes built during the housing boom in Florida between1923 and 1929. They are hand crafted in wood and resemble nature.Another bird house I would recommend is the Moose Lodge Wood Birdhouse,which is created of wood and moss.
You have now provided yourfeathered friends with a bird feeder and a bird house. What could youpossibly do for them now? Offer them fresh water by providing a birdbath. Keep your bird bath clean and fill it with fresh water often. Thebest location to place a bird bath is between trees and scrubs.
You may live in an areawhere the weather is freezing. You should buy a heated birdbath to keepthe water from freezing up. Some products such as our Rocky MountainBird Bath with heater and dripper and the Heated Bird Bath 20 inch willkeep the water from freezing.
I am glad that I did thissearch and I got the knowledge about these little creatures. Now I knowthat I can do something to help them pass through the harsh weatherthat will come.
Whatabout you? Can you make a difference in a bird’s life?
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