Frozen South

People often ask how we can keep breeder birds outside in the winter without hurting them or their eggs/babies. It's a challenge and a bother. We make creative use of work lights for warmth and tons of plastic wrap to protect the birds from the wind. They contribute by staying in their nest boxes for warmth. Only the male Eclectus stay out on a perch and each one has a light to stand next to.

Last night we hit freezing for the first time this year. Tonight and tomorrow night we should be 24-25 degrees (-4 Celsius, Snowbabies). Every day we do a little more to protect the birds; every night we worry. So far so good, the baby Vos' are chirping loudly from under their mother. She takes such good care of them we don't want to take them from her.

Usually, the first big cold front in November or December brings the coldest weather of the year. Hopefully, it will not get into the twenties again this winter.

- posted by J-Birds @ 3:56 PM |