eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

In the last post, one of the readers (Gerry) raised some excellent points... I'll see if I can address them here... (Gerry's questions/comments are in italics.)

• Where do birds go in snow storms? Quite simply, anywhere that there is protection. Years ago, my buddy Richard and I would explore the woods and the bogs during winter nights. When storms really tuned up, we'd sometimes seek the shelter of the overhanging branches of evergreens. Much to my shame, we'd occasionally spook roosting birds into the darkness and certain death... 20/20 hindsight...
• Do birds use birdhouses as refuge during storms? Well, I know our Eastern Screech-Owl "Otis" uses our owl house for refuge, so other smaller birds probably do the same thing with our birdhouse. But a better alternative might be an actual roost. A roost is somewhat similar to a birdhouse with the exceptions being:
  • The access hole is at the bottom of the box and not at the top
  • The inside walls are scored to give purchase to little claws
  • The inside also contains staggered dowels for roosting
  • While there still are drainage holes in the bottom, ventilation is kept to a minimum
  
  
  Hmmm... Sounds like I could modify the rough design below to serve as both a house and roost for all seasons. Hmmm indeed...
  
  
  (See also: Let's Build a Birdhouse! (Post 1 of 2) and Let's Build a Birdhouse! (Post 2 of 2).)
• Where do they find food? Little feathered beasties are remarkable in their ability to scrounge, store, and improvise. The general consensus is that birds rely on feeders for roughly 20% of their food. Still, nature is a cruel mistress, and storms can wreak absolute havoc on birds. (More than once, I've traipsed through snow and wandered upon a bird that had simply frozen to death. The "black box" equation is tragically simple... When food energy going into the creature is less than the amount of thermal energy required to keep the thing alive, it will simply fall off a branch or fall from the sky. That's why everyone recommends high-energy foods (like suet) in addition to regular feed for birds in the colder months.)
• Perhaps we should have a guest interview? Excellent idea! And I think I know just the person... As "The Brain" says, "Time will tell Pinky..."
• Trying to "keep it real"... Thanks Gerry... I try to walk the fine line between being a casual backyard birder, a serious birdwatcher, and an amateur ornithologist... No doubt on my best days I can almost meet the mark, and on my worst... Well... Let's just talk about those New England Patriots...

Lest you think you can sneak away without a little "Coffee-Table Confab"... Let me take a brief moment to tick off both religious and non-religious ideologues (and everyone in between) concerning the controversy of seasonal salutations such as "Merry Christmas!" I think we're missing the point folks... In my opinion, if nothing else, it all boils down to a matter of manners. Let me explain... As an agnostic, I have more than my share of gripes with religion - all religions. However, when a person offers glad tidings based upon something so deeply personal as a religion, only a rude, self-absorbed idiot would take offense at the gesture or fail to return the civility. If nothing else, it's simply an issue of manners.

And with that... From my heart of hearts, Merry Christmas!

By the feeders,

CapeCodAlan