2009 September | Our Globes Outdoor Sports

Food Water

September 30th, 2009 admin No comments

Food Water

How do wild birds get food and water in the winter?

I saw some birds sitting on the frozen birdbath yesterday during our first snow of the year, and it made me wonder how birds get water in the winter, and how do they get food? (Not supplied by feeders or people.) I was very curious as I watched these birds as they seemed to be a bit clueless since the weather changed so quickly.

It depends on the species. Some, like the Northern Cardinal, survive on the berries that are left on the bushes. Some, like nuthatches and some woodpeckers, have stored seeds under the bark of trees. If the snow is not too deep, the birds can still scratch it away and glean grain from agricultural fields.

Many birds will eat snow in order to get sufficient water in the winter, when their normal water sources are frozen. Only raptors (birds that hunt and eat other birds or mammals) get their moisture from their Food Supply.

Most seed and grain eating birds either migrate, or they get the majority of their food and water from human sources, that is, bird feeders and bird baths.

Here is some info from http://www.gf.nd.gov/multimedia/ndoutdoors/issues/2003/feb/docs/natural-food.pdf

"The best winter wildlife foods are characterized
by two qualities: persistence on
the branch or vine, and low appeal during
fall. Persistent berries are those that
remain on the plant long into winter, such
as hawthorne, hackberry, Russian olive,
Siberian crab, mountain ash, American
cranberry, sumac, snowberry and bittersweet.
Many of these same berries are initially
unpalatable for wildlife and require freezing
and thawing before they are desirable.
Berries that persist into late winter are
extremely important because they are
available at a time when other natural (or
unnatural) food supplies are limited or
covered by snow. Songbirds and game
birds alike benefit the greatest from this
type of natural food source.
Other plants, which produce acorns or
nuts, provide a quality food source for
species like ...wild turkeys...
and wood ducks. These
plants include bur oak, black walnut, and
beaked hazel."

And http://northumberland.extension.psu.edu/MasterGardener/DBaumwoll.html tells us:

"Winter-fruiting, native plants, like winged sumac, hackberry, and highbush cranberry, provide both shelter and a good source of food for wintering birds.
Like most creatures, birds require three things for winter survival: shelter, food, and water. The simplest of these to supply is water. When natural sources of water are frozen, birds will come to birdbaths not only for drinking but for bathing. Bathing conditions their insulating feathers and, thus, helps to protect these warm-blooded animals from cold."

Cornell University reminds us "Birds need a dependable supply of fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing" even in the winter, so they suggest providing a birdbath http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/attracting/other_attract/water/document_view