It's officially winter by a tad, and the near endless stream of cold weather mixed with too little warmth keeps on coming. Unfortunately, this is the (dead) of winter and there doesn't seem to be any let-up in sight.
Not only did the winter get an early start, but many predictions are that it will be somewhat colder and last longer than normal. Now that's depressing, at least for me.
Humans aren't the only ones to feel the intense cold. Birds and mammals are affected by the cold, too. Their metabolic rates may be different, and they have that naturally efficient covering of fur or feathers to help them retain heat. But winter's cold will still kill them, none the less.
Unless, that is, they are able to obtain adequate quantities of suitable foods to sustain them as the winter winds howl by.
Birds receive the largest part of human aid. Between 20% and 50% of American households will either put out birdseed in a suitable feeding station or deposit other foodstuffs such as human waste foodstuffs that some birds can utilize to some degree. At least those are the figures the birdseed industry, a $3.5 billion annual business, have made available.
But feeding birds during the winter is not an activity that should be undertaken lightly. It is a very serious responsibility that some folks, because of their personal or professional schedules, should just not accept. The lives of every bird feeding at a bird feeder may be, literally, in their hands. An inhumane death by starvation could easily await them if the humans who feed them should suddenly stop putting out the food.
Wildlife, both birds and mammals, can quickly become totally dependent on humans for food once they begin to feed at a feeding station. That means the humans become their primary source provider. If the humans suddenly stop feeding them, they could very easily starve to death before they even realize the food supply has disappeared and they must now revert back to their wild ways for survival.
If the bird feeding occurs in an urban or suburban setting the danger might not be as great. Generally at least one house in four will be feeding birds, and the birds will be visiting several bird feeders during an average day. If one should stop for some reason, a short flight to the next feeder will continue the substitute food supply.
But rural homes are another story. Because these houses are often so spread out it isn't unusual for each feeding station to have its own flock of birds. If the food supply suddenly stops coming that whole flock is in serious jeopardy. They must find another food source before they starve.
What's the best food to feed wild birds? That's a loaded question since all birds don't eat the same seeds. One of the best mixtures includes at least three of the following: black oil sunflower seeds, finely cracked corn, wheat, milo and millet. I specify black oil sunflower seeds because the latest research continues to indicates these have a higher food value then striped sunflower seeds for birds and other wildlife.
What about suet blocks or similar foodstuffs? These can be good for certain species. Just remember that not everyone puts out suet blocks, so if you suddenly stop that food supply the birds that have come to rely on it may find themselves in exactly the same position of a flock of birds around an empty rural feeder.
By the way, making suet blocks with either bird seed or small bits of fruit is as easy as melting beef fat and pouring it over the solid ingredients.
Predation is another important point to keep in mind. By feeding birds and/or small mammals (mainly squirrels) you are also concentrating them in a small area. This will make them far more susceptible to predation from a wide range of natural enemies. Hawks such as sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Goshawks naturally feed on birds.
Any one of these feathered predators could set up house near a bird feeder just for the chance at easy prey on a daily basis. The larger goshawks will also take gray and red squirrels just as readily as they will hunt doves, jays and any of the larger song birds.
House cats are another menace for song birds and small mammals alike. They are ferocious hunters that often kill just for the sake of killing. It is estimated that free-roaming and feral house cats annually kill more than 190 million song birds. That is a terrible loss that is almost totally avoidable if cat owners would only exercise a little restraint on their pets.
The best way to help song birds and small mammals avoid undue predation is to give them a source of cover near the feeding station. Most homeowners plant evergreens such as pines, firs and spruce trees to add beauty to their landscaping, and these trees ideally serve the secondary purpose of sheltering small birds.
Forsythia and lilacs are another ideal shelter shrub. And don't haul away that Christmas tree after the holidays. Instead, set it up near the feeder as additional cover until spring arrives.
Feeding larger mammals such as whitetail deer during a hard winter is generally not a good idea. It is also illegal under NYS Department of Environmental Conservation regulations.
Nature has long ago prepared these and all of her other wild creatures for survival on their own, regardless of what adverse weather might come their way. Man usually only mucks up the situation whenever he tries to interfere with nature.
With that said, some folks will still feel the need to help out "the poor wildlife."If you decide that you simply have to feed the deer, at least feed them the right foodstuffs. Whole kernel corn and course cracked corn are good. But the best supplementary food might just be horse pellets. These look like rabbit pellets except they contain a balance diet of alfalfa, grains and minerals specifically designed for ungulates.
To properly feed deer, simply make a tray from a piece of plywood with a lip of wood around the edge. A half sheet, ripped lengthwise, seems to work best. Mount it securely 12 to 18 inches above ground. Then pour on the pellets or kernels of corn, and the deer will soon do the rest. They will probably even invite all of their cousins, and you will no doubt have far more dinner guests then you ever dreamed of.
Oh, one other thing. Make sure you position the tray well away from your house to reduce the possibility the deer will come up and munch on shrubs after they have finished the other food. They will probably still do some unwanted munching, but that's the price you will pay for being too nice.
Len Lisenbee is the Daily Messenger's Outdoor Columnist. Contact him at lisenbee@frontiernet.net
