For the Birds

If you haven't heard, we aren't the only ones squawking about this terrible "spring" weather! The birds are ready to give Mother Nature the bird. If they live 'til the real spring arrives.

In Wisconsin anyway, they've seriously declared a Bird Emergency.

The unusual April storm last weekend already killed or severely weakened many migratory birds such as robins, warblers, and woodcocks. Since the weather only started warming up today, the deep, lingering snow cover has cut off the food supply for the survivors.

The call to help feed these winged friends is being led by the Raptor Education Group, Inc. in Antigo – a non- profit organization dedicated to caring for injured or orphaned native bird species and public education on wildlife issues. They do a lot of good work there. I mainly hear about injured eagles and hawks. Now us Robyns rank right up there, too.

We know this is not a normal spring. The birds can deal with some snow and cold, but not deep snow (30-plus inches) and sustained cold. The Raptor group said the birds have slipped into hypothermia, unable to maintain their own body temperature or keep themselves warm any longer. Birds that eat insects cannot find natural food. They are starving. (This Robyn knows their struggle – the storm forced King Cone to close its doors both Saturday and Sunday!)

I wasn't sure if this was bird emergency was happening around here. But when I went for a run after work, I came upon a dead robin at the side of the road. No sign of any trauma, but I'm not a vet and I wasn't going to touch it with my bare hands and catch bird flu or something. So now I will pay attention to their suggestions on how to help these birds. Yes, it is going to warm up this weekend. But how fast will 2 feet of snow melt??

The Raptor Education Group (REGI) urges people to keep your bird feeders full. They also say: Robins can eat cut-up raisins, dried mealworms, shelled sunflower-seed pieces, frozen blueberries, crumbled suet blocks. Put food on the ground where you see the birds. Robins congregate along rural roads, near stands of pine, spruce or other conifers. You can also feed them in those locations. Make sure the food you put down is off the roadway. To learn more, visit http://www.raptoreducationgroup.org

And in the meantime, feel free to flip the bird to you-know-who!