Snow and birds

How do birds deal with all the snow we have had lately? Snow piles high and limits access to their favourite foods. I am sure that birds deal with the problem in a variety of ways, but yesterday’s observations show a few approaches.

Note: the previous posting talked about the formation of the lovely snow structures I referred to as crystalline marshmallows. These structures probably do not hold the same appeal for birds as they do for me.

First, the problem: If you are a bird that eats the berries or seeds on trees, how do you get at them when the snow has piled up like Marge Simpson’s hair gone white? (These are the berries of the mountain ash).

One solution is to avoid the problem altogether by seeking food in a place sheltered from the snow. This is what some Song Sparrows did as they flew back and forth between the snowy branches and the sheltered region.

A second strategy is to not seek a sheltered region, but a much more exposed one: one high in the tree and exposed to the wind. Even a gentle breeze is sufficient to limit or prevent the pileup of snow there. Consequently, the snow marshmallows formed from gently interlocking crystals are more likely to be found on lower branches. This go-high approach is demonstrated by a female Pine Grosbeak. I also watched a Northern Flicker and a Varied Thrush using this same approach.

If the bird forages low in the tree, it must contend with the snow. Although my observations are limited, I have not seen a bird purposely clear the snow before eating. Rather, as with this female Pine Grosbeak, being unable to eat the berries at the top of the bunch, it reaches away around and eats the berries from the bottom.

A final picture of a male Pine Grosbeak demonstrating the go-high strategy is my favourite shot of the day (although Marge’s hairdo was a close second).