In the past I have written about the importance of providing wild birds with salt, grit and other essentials that are sometimes over-looked by folks maintaining bird feeders (please see article below). Today I’d like to highlight high-calorie foods and water, both of which become increasingly important as temperatures drop.
How Do They Cope?
I’ve always wondered how birds, which seem so fragile in some ways, managed to cope with frigid winter temperatures. The point was brought home to me when I cared for outdoor bird exhibits at the Bronx Zoo. I would arrive at 5 AM, and shuddered to see birds such as Bald Ibis and Indian Peafowl (which I associate with warm climates) sound asleep while covered in snow. Read More »