prolonged snow cover and cold affecting bird survival

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Cannot feed that many birds. Already putting some feed out seems only so many will come in at a time to feed.

 

[Talihofarms]

The deer here will destroy our bird feeders.

I solved this problem by driving my truck through the corn field this last fall before harvest.

I knocked down a path about 8' wide by about 1/4 mile at my yard line and the field.

I have seen as many as 31 deer and a couple dozen turkeys come in and dig up the corn from the snow.

We sit and watch the deer come in like clock work every evening till early morning. Turkeys come in during the day.

I just hope the deer stay away from the garden come spring.

 

[ejb3810]

A little information that may make some of you feel a little better. Where I am located we have had 66 inches of snow so far this winter, and we would, on average, expect another 100+ inches in the months of Feb,March and April. It has warmed up a bit. The low Monday morning -17, this morning -10, with a high of +7 expected today. Yes I am in the U S and not in Alaska. The chickens are not interested in going outdoors!

 

[sourland]

You made me feel a little better.

However your pain does not completely eliminate mine.

 

[HLAC]

The starlings have been coming into the yard a bit more with the cold and snow. Hanging out here definitely affects their survival. It's not the cold or food they need to worry about tho'.

 

[chicknmania]

WEll, what we do is put out as much food as we can or what we want to. It's the same everywhere, pretty much the whole US has snow and cold right now.
If you can help some birds, that's something. Of course you can't possibly feed them all. But I have been feeding wild birds for years and I have never felt
like I'm trying to feed them all. Some will come to the feeders, and some won't. Lots of our neighbors feed birds, too. As far as deer destroying bird feeders, that's weird, because Ohio has deer too..lots of em. And we have NEVER had a deer come to a bird feeder, let alone destroy it. Squirrels maybe. But I don't think there's any deer hungry enough to come toa suet feeder, or climb a tree to get to a hanging feeder. And you can get suet from a butcher or anywhere you can get fresh meat, for a couple of cents. Cracked corn, millet, and sunflower seeds are all cheap, too, as is that cheap mixed stuff you can get anywhere, though that stuff does seem to attract birds like starlings and grackles. We are having starlings come to the feeders too and we usually don't see them. I can t imagine not feeding the birds in winter, or anything
else that can use a seed. And it's not breaking the bank. It is worth it to watch them flocking to the feeders before a big snowstorm, and see all the kinds we get. I wish we could put food out for the wild turkeys too, b/c they are the ones that really suffer here...but they won't come close enough, probably b/c of the dog.