Winter is for the birds. When you look out your window, or perhaps while walking your dog around the neighborhood, you will probably notice that winter is pretty quiet. Many of our local birds are still around, though less talkative this time of year. With less foliage, numerous species of birds, such as the Northern Cardinal, really stand out against the winter colors. Cardinals and other birds call Virginia their home year-round. In addition, the Commonwealth is a “winter destination” to numerous migratory bird species, including ducks, geese, swans, seabirds, and some songbirds. Without all the leaves on the trees, winter is a great time to grab some binoculars, bundle up, head over to our Izaak Walton trails, or your local parks and refuges, and do some bird watching. The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail (VBWT), an organized network of outdoor sites, provides suggestions on the best places to see birds and wildlife across Virginia. https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/
As I watched some goldfinches hanging out on one of our bird feeders, I found myself thinking that they are fascinating little creatures. Beneath all those feathers, they seem to have small, delicate bodies, yet they are hardy - enduring the cold, finding food and shelter to make it to the warmth of spring. Birds are important to sustaining the natural environment. They play a vital role in controlling pests by eating a variety of insects and acting as pollinators which increases the diversity of plants and flowers. In turn, birds and their eggs, serve as food for other animals like foxes, raccoons, and snakes. This relationship among all animals in an ecosystem helps maintain balance, preventing any one species from becoming too numerous. Birds play a vital role in keeping this balance of nature.
Winter weather and food scarcity make survival difficult for birds. Most insects have died off or become dormant, while most other food sources are buried under fallen leaves and snow. Like humans, birds are warm-blooded, and they must expend a good deal of energy to maintain their body heat in the cold winter months. High-energy foods, such as seeds and suet (hard animal fat) are important to keeping up with those energy needs.
As custodians of nature, we can do our part by providing food sources, water, protection, and shelter for these magnificent little creatures. Backyard bird feeders are a wonderful way to provide nourishment to birds – any time of the year. There are variety of different styles of feeders to serve the needs of different kinds of birds. Bird feeders can be constructed with household items and your creativity. (You can always do an internet search to find inspiration!) Corn, peanuts, white millet, suet, black sunflower seeds and even fruit are all great examples of food sources that birds wintering in Virginia enjoy. Peanut butter or sunflower butter are also nourishing for birds, especially in winter when the production of fat is important to their survival. Spread the peanut butter on a cardboard paper towel roll or even a bagel, cover with bird seed, attach some string, and tie it to a tree branch – near the tree trunk - to provide some cover. You can even re-use a water bottle and popsicle stick to make a bird feeder or use pipe cleaners to make “fruit loops” to hang on a tree branch. The birds will come!
During freezing nights, birds fluff their feathers to trap heat and slow their metabolism to conserve energy. They find shelter and protection from the wind deep in the branches of evergreen trees, as well as in hollowed out tree trunks and shrubbery. Creating shelter and protecting birds from the snow, wind and cold temperatures can be pretty easy and takes little effort. Discarded Christmas trees, tree branches cut down from previous storms, and other plant material placed in a cross- hatched pattern create an inviting shelter for many kinds of birds. For those of you who are DIY savvy, building birdhouses will also provide birds a warm reprieve from the winter chill. There are many websites and YouTube videos that provide instruction for constructing bird houses from simple design to extravagant. For those of you that need a helping hand to get started, many home improvement stores and craft stores in our area sell bird house kits ($12 and up). Great project to do with the kids.
There are many ways we can help birds survive the Virginia winter. They are truly a wonderful and important to sustaining our natural environment. The next time you see a bird, take a moment to appreciate their beauty and admire their perseverance. They, as many of us, are doing their best to stay warm while anxiously awaiting the return of springtime.
Save Our Streams: Virginia Save Our Streams is a program of the Izaak Walton League of America. Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations. Virginians have the right to know whether our streams are safe for swimming, fishing, playing, and drinking. Virginia Save Our Streams monitors the water quality of Virginia’s streams and educates the public about the importance of clean water.
The chapter seeks volunteers to help start a stream-monitoring program for five areas around the property. If interested contact Eric Brown or Erika Wettergreen on how you can help.