Deep snow effects on birds

Buckhound · 02-08-2010, 12:15 PM

We got 18in. of snow the other day with a another predicted 8in. by Fri. and no warming trend in sight. We normally do not get hit with this much snow and wonder how it is going to effect the birds? I was really looking foward to this Spring, but if this deep snow sticks around for awhile I have a bad feeling we will lose many birds? Just can't see them landing and feeding in 18-24in of snow? What's your opinion with prolonged deep snow and it's effect on birds? Thanks

Pygmy · 02-08-2010, 03:30 PM

They may sit on the roost for a few days, but it's no big deal..

With the good mast crop this year, they are probably larded up with fat and could stand a prolonged period on the roost..

When they get hungry, they'll fly down and find themselves some forage above the snow... They are very hardy and adaptable, and they can take advantage of many "above snow" food sources, such as sumac seeds, multiflora rose berries, alder buds, etc. etc. etc.

They're pretty tough birds, and they thrive in climates much more severe than what they have anywhere in Pennsyltucky...

Wingbone · 02-08-2010, 04:00 PM

Pygmy 's got it. They'll roost in trees and eat buds like a ruffed grouse when they have to. As long as the snow isn't there for a couple of months they make it through just fine. There are a lot of turkeys up in Michigan's UP that see that kind of snow regularly. The south-facing hillsides melt off soon enough. They are tougher than you think.

bushnlo · 02-08-2010, 05:08 PM

Pa is going to get 18-24 tues night.How are they going to walk in that!

mez · 02-08-2010, 06:39 PM

They will be fine and wade through the snow. We get a lot of snow in the Black Hills and they do fine. We got a couple feet of snow over Christmas and they came walking through it into my yard just like every other day.

superstrutter · 02-08-2010, 07:54 PM

The snow is not bothering the turkeys at all down here in Louisiana.

Buckhound · 02-10-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mez

They will be fine and wade through the snow. We get a lot of snow in the Black Hills and they do fine. We got a couple feet of snow over Christmas and they came walking through it into my yard just like every other day.

I honestly know nothing about deep snow and turkeys, as we normally do not get that much snow. But I would have to think any bird that pitches down into 2 feet of soft snow, is doomed? Sure they will stay on roost for a good while, but eventually have to come down.

Adrian J Hare · 02-11-2010, 03:52 AM

as some snow level can cause a little problems most times they seem to adapt well. In Ontario we seem to get close to 3-4 feet every winter and birds still make it. What we do see is if we get snow depths like that for long periods for a few years in a row with bad hatch rates and the population goes down fast.

We're seeing this now in my area, but most of Ontario is doing well...

bradisthebest · 02-11-2010, 05:07 AM

Just remember how tough the wild turkey is they will find a way to survive the snow they always do. Up in the part of Ontario where i live they will even feed along the side of the road and eat stuff off the shoulder. They seem to find food everywhere

mez · 02-11-2010, 12:32 PM

They come down every morning. I have a bird feeder in a tree out my kitchen window and the turkeys are underneath it cleaning up every morning at 7:30 and 8:30. Hens and poults come early and a group of 6 toms comes later. They haven't missed a day since early October. We have had some bad storms and around 4ft of snow and without fail they trot in every day. They come down the hill and you can't see their legs at all, just pushing through the snow.