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It is cold outside and it is getting colder by the day. With old man winter setting in and Jack Frost on the way, our little feathered friends are going to need us more than ever. Birds have become more and more dependent on people feeding them. The availability of food is severely limited when the winter comes. The days are shorter and the natural food such as insects are no longer available to the bird species.
During the harshest season of the year there has to be a provision of water, food and shelter. Some birds like woodpeckers, and other insect eaters can still get their food under tree bark and other sources. Unfortunately, the smaller birds like finches and cardinals depend on seeds, fruits and nuts. They usually have a territory that they are used to where they are supplemented with wild bird seed from feeders in gardens.
A lot of birds depend on us for shelter during the fall and winter and there has been a lot of controversy over this. Birds have always migrated south for the winter. The question is, if we supplement them with shelter and food, will this stop their normal routine of migration? After much review and investigation the statistics show that this is not so. Birds may have a reason for not migrating. Perhaps they were injured or caught in a snowstorm. They would ultimately depend on feeding stations to help them survive the winter.
It is very important to give thought to the location of the shelter. Make sure this place is secure and they are not exposed to predators. A few trees, preferably pine trees, will keep the birds shielded from cats and hawks that are constantly surveying the area. Another form of shelter can be the nesting boxes that are used for breeding during the summer. They are perfect for night time roosting and seed caches.
Not much consideration is given to the availability of water to these winged creatures. When is it is blustery cold and everything is freezing, what then? Streams and puddles and bird baths are frozen over. These little birds are trying to stay warm in the extreme cold and this problem can be solved with a little forethought. A bird bath can be filled several times a day to ensure that they have water. This may seem like a lot of work, but the reward is when you see your little feathered friends lined up patiently around the bird bath waiting for a drink.
When choosing a feeding station it is wise to make sure is it at least five feet above the ground. Feeders can be made from most anything you have available. Empty milk cartons or even soft drink bottles. Some people even divide them up into specific bird seeds to attract specific birds. Buying seeds in bulk give you the advantage of avoiding filler seeds, which the birds toss out. The important thing to remember is that the feeders need to be cleaned and maintained regularly.
More and more bird watchers are erecting winter bird feeders. The birds are depending on us to provide during the severe winter, and could perish from starvation if we are not responsible.
Bird seed can be found in supermarkets, pet food shops and garden centres.
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