While we were grumbling, songbirds were dying

[question everything]

While we were grumbling, songbirds were dying

By DOUG SMITH, Star Tribune

May 8, 2008

The late, cold spring did more than try the patience of Minnesotans: It killed scores of songbirds in the northern two-thirds of the state. Since last week, state Department of Natural Resources officials have received many reports of dead swallows, bluebirds, kinglets, sparrows, robins and warblers.

They apparently starved to death because of a lack of insects caused by cold weather and late-April snow. The large-scale bird die-off, which has ebbed now that the weather has warmed, was unusual, officials said.

(snip)

Mike North, who works for the DNR's division of ecological resources, put up nesting houses on his property nine years ago. He said he has never seen anything like this. North, of rural Brainerd, spotted a lethargic tree swallow sitting along a county road and suspected trouble. When he checked his nesting boxes, he found 19 dead tree swallows. "One box had nine dead birds in it, huddled together, apparently trying to stay warm,'' he said Wednesday. At Crow Wing State Park, 27 swallows and two bluebirds were found dead in nest boxes.

(snip)

The cold spring meant that migrating songbirds found few insects when they arrived. The final blow probably came when a foot or more of snow hit northern Minnesota on April 25 and 26. The Brainerd area got 6 to 8 inches, North said, but much more fell farther north. Insect-eating birds simply couldn't find food, and starved. There's no way to know how many birds died... Henderson said recent warmer weather has melted snow and encouraged insect production, meaning birds probably can find food now.

But there's really nothing people can do to help hungry insect-eating birds, he said.

(snip)

http://www.startribune.com/local/18750239.html

[rcsl1998]

1. Sadly, K&R...

[alstephenson]

2. K & R (with great sadness)...

[juno jones]

3. In such conditions, a block of suet and berries set out might save a few.

Chunks are availible in decent pet store.

[question everything]

4. These are obviously wild places

that are not visited on a daily basis and... no one could have predicted a major snow storm in late April!

I am glad that the birds in my back yard are happy with seeds that I keep providing. The Robins are happy with the fat worms, now that all the snow has melted.