|  |
|
Winter Tips for Feathered and Furry Friends
From Jeremy Patten
Winter is the hardest time of the year for wildlife. You can make it easier for small animals to survive by providing food and shelter. All the tips found below were given to GMAD by Sue Cousino, who not only provides aid to wildlife, but also works tirelessly on dog rescue and adoption in Vermont.
- Provide adequate food daily.
- Keep feeders clean.
- Consult local food suppliers to find out which seeds are the best for the birds in your area.
- If you go out of town, please have a friend or neighbor continue to supply food, or at the very least, provide food again when you return, the birds will come back!
- A heated water source is extremely beneficial; buy one from a local food supply store, (if a bird does not have to use it's energy to convert snow to water, it can survive on almost a third as much food if necessary).
- If possible locate feeders around evergreen shrubs and trees for protection, feeders out in the open make birds much more vulnerable to predators and the elements. In general shelter is extremely important (evergreen trees, bird shelters, burlap shelters; again the less body fat needed for warmth, the less food they can survive on if need be.
- Suet is a wonderful source of nutrition, especially for squirrels, woodpeckers and chickadees.
- If you have ground feeders (i.e. doves cardinals etc), you must keep an area snow free and keep feed on the ground. Please attempt to locate this area near evergreens for protection.
- Don't forget the squirrels! They still need food in the winter, it is helpful to provide the squirrels their own feeder with food like whole corn, sunflower seeds, pieces of bread and crackers, and pop corn (with their own feeder they are less likely to compete with the birds).
Back
|
|
