Winter has Arrived

NEED TO FEED
January 2010

Winter provides many challenges to every living creature that has to survive within its grasp. Now that snow blankets natural feeding sources, such as your gardens, flower beds, and woodlots, wild birds must look toward other food sources in order to survive.

If you are concerned birder or naturalist about the survival of wild birds as well as other animals that have to endure the harsh winters of Canada you may want to consider the following.

Remember that wild bird seed supplies the nutrition and energy requirements essential to survive those cold winter nights.

There are a number of basic reasons for the “NEED TO FEED” particularly during the winter months.
Consider the wild birds
1. Ability to source food because it was covered by snow.
2. Depending on the bird, metabolism will burn 500-2000 calories in just one winter night to survive. The colder the night the more calories required to keep warm.
3. Dangers to expand the search area for food, natural predators such as hawks, cats etc.
4. Competition from squirrels and other birds for natural food
5. Challenges as the winter progresses and natural foods become scarce
6. Need for carbohydrates to generate the calories to survive. Even if natural seeds are available they do not provide an adequate source if winters are severe.

So remember to pick up that bag of wild bird seed while you are out shopping.