For some odd reason, Mother Nature seems to have forgotten that it is now the latter half of April, and that in Oregon that means rain and moderate temperatures. This evening the forecast for the northwest corner of the state, as well as southwest Washington, indicates temperatures around freezing, and possibilities of ice or snow in some locations (we already saw hail here in Scappoose only this afternoon). Fruit growers in the area are breaking out orchard heating equipment they thought was well stowed away until next winter.
As we have already been seeing many migrant birds, not to mention some early emergent members of the Lepidoptera, in our area, I’m making an extra effort to ensure that the provisions we supply at our property for the visiting wildlife are in order to make their lives just a little easier in the face of this sudden springtime winter weather.
– I’ve cleaned and filled the hummingbird feeder with fresh sugar water (not extra strong, just fresh). A full hummingbird feeder takes longer to freeze than one that is partially empty. Should it freeze during the night, I will thaw it as soon as possible and replace the sugar water with a fresh supply from a batch I’ve made and stored in the refrigerator.
– I’ve put fresh suet in any suet feeders that were getting low. Many birds, as well as the local squirrels, may turn back to the suet as a result of the cold weather. As many of the bird watching list servers have been discussing the question of when to take their suet feeders down for the spring and summer seasons, I am also going to remind my local friends to keep theirs up and filled at least until the weather turns back to its normal patterns.
– I’ve topped off any seed and nut feeders that were getting a little low. Adverse weather can greatly increase the number of birds suddenly at the feeders and I don’t want any of them to arrive to an empty feeder.
These three simple things are reasonable for anyone to do and I’m encouraging everyone I know who feeds birds to do likewise. I fully realize that birds are resilient, far more so than many humans, to harsh weather conditions and that little I do may be of much consequence. However as an avid naturalist and an enthusiastic feeder of wildlife, I think it is beneficial that everyone do what they can to make the world around them even a little better for all involved if at all within their power to do so. It simply makes good ecological as well as karmic sense.
Peace and good bird watching.
