Small birds 'hit by freezing weather (UK)

[Donna]

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said some birds were dying because they could not find food.

They urged people to leave food and water out for the birds.

The extreme weather is also changing the behaviour of some species with reports of arctic birds, normally seen in Greenland, visiting NI shores.

Birds like redwings and snipe which normally dwell in the countryside are coming into the city for food.

RSPB manager Anne Marie McDevitt said people really need to look after the bird population.

"Their fat reserves are basically running down and they are not able to keep warm," she said.

"They are not taking in enough calories to keep themselves warm and alive.

"They can just simply die at this time of year if they don't get enough food. They are not able to replenish their energy reserves."



BBC news

[Bobbie Ireland]

Even now, Rod is out getting more bird food, esp high-fat items like suet. We are replenishing the feeders many times per day at the moment. I know you are all used to this, but for us, this Arctic weather is unheard of and we are not prepared. Nor are the birds that come down from Scandinavia at this time of year, only to find that conditions are even worse. In the past few days, Dublin has been colder than Stockholm.

One thing people forget is to leave out water for birds, even in these conditions. They cannot, apparently, get the water from the snow, and they always need to preen. We knock the ice off our water bowl a few times a day! And now, of course, I have Mister Fox's welfare to worry about!

[Patti from Kentucky]

I have a small birdbath heater that works really well...during this really cold December my birdbath has often been the only unfrozen water in the neighborhood, and very popular with the birds.  I swish out the old water and refill with fresh just to keep it clean and healthy, but sometimes I have to fill it more than once a day if a swarm of robins or starlings shows up and bathes enthusiastically!