WHY AREN'T THE WILD BIRDS FEEDING THIS WINTER?  Where Have All The Birdies Gone

  Folks have been complaining that the wild birds are not visiting their feeders this winter.  It is not uncommon for the birds to disappear into the deep woods in the fall, lowering their consumption at the feeder.  The birds also seem "come and go" with regard to their feeding binges. What is unique about this winter is the fact that the birds have eaten hardly anything at all up until now.  Reports from our customers are that bird feed consumption is finally starting to pick up steam.  Previously, consumption was down to a trickle.

    My column this week is actually a question to the readers of this column.  Traditionally we assume the birds will feed heavier in the colder months, especially when there is snow on the ground.  This winter has been one of the colder winters on record for the Fredericksburg region, so one would think the birds would have been sending us to the "sunflower poorhouse".  Tis not the case in most instances.

    One theory which has been presented by folks is that the birds sensed a hard winter and went South.  The problem here is that some birds do not migrate.  Yes folks it's been cold, but we have seen worse.  I don't buy this theory in its entirety.  However, there may be some truth to this.  We may be dealing with multiple factors.

    My personal theory is that it rained extensively and evenly through the spring and summer of 2000.  The result is that vegetation has flowered and fruited profusely in 2000.  Even though we encountered drought in September and October, the bountiful yield of nature had completed is usually successful growing season.  A support for this theory is to consider the fact that the birds feed more heavily when the ground is covered with snow, when your feeder is the only game in town.  This means that the birds feed from other sources when the ground is not covered and they are not strictly dependent upon for their food.  Their "other sources" are vast this winter.

    I believe the birds appreciate our feeders, but they might actually prefer their nature flora of forest fruits and seeds.  I would be interested in hearing any other theories regarding this subject.  If you e-mail us at roxburymills@novacoxmail.com with you're thoughts, we will share them in next week's column.  Meanwhile, it seems the birds are feeding a bit more lately.  Have a good week.
 

                                                                                                Andy Lynn