A Question

Discussion in 'Bird' started by marlingardener, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2010
    Messages:
    11,510
    Likes Received:
    13,920
    Location:
    Central Texas, zone 8
    Yesterday after the snow melted (we had 1/2") we noticed birds feeding on the ground. They were in the front yard, orchard area, barn lot, all over the place. My question is, does anyone know why? Does melted snow leave some mineral or whatever behind that the birds need?
    If it helps, the birds were cardinals, kildeer, sparrows, warblers, redwings and brown cowbirds.
     
    Sjoerd likes this.
  2. Loading...

    Similar Threads
    1. AAnightowl
      Replies:
      7
      Views:
      168,601
    2. margie12u
      Replies:
      4
      Views:
      88,718

  3. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    18,468
    Likes Received:
    5,588
    Location:
    Southern Ontario zone 5b
    My guess is that the insects were easy to catch because they were cold (moving slowly if at all)
    Just a guess haha
     
    Jewell and Cayuga Morning like this.
  4. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    7,094
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Location:
    New England
  5. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,143
    Location:
    NE Texas
    Don`t know about where you are but here,, I noticed birds were picking at a few of the new emerging grasses !! We feed corn chops so if you are feeding seeds I think it may just be for the green grasses and a few early seeds !! We have the same birds as you do except the kildees are later !!
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2020
    Jewell likes this.



    Advertisement
  6. Islandlife

    Islandlife Young Pine

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2016
    Messages:
    2,009
    Likes Received:
    1,703
    Am sure Kildale will know why ......
     
    Cayuga Morning likes this.
  7. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,063
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    My thought is maybe the snow made the connection of the seeds to their plants weak when wet and there were more seeds on the ground than there had been in the dry weather conditions.

    And when the soil is wet, many of the bugs living underground come up to the surface.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2020
    Jewell and marlingardener like this.
  8. Kildale

    Kildale Nature's Window

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Messages:
    3,704
    Likes Received:
    4,891
    Location:
    British Columbia
    That sounds like it could be what toni says, especially as there were so many species.
     

Share This Page