These B.C. hummingbirds need your help surviving winter
The Anna’s Hummingbird is unique compared to other species because they don’t migrate, but low winter temperatures can be deadly for them.
The birds require a constant food source to keep warm and provide energy for their fast-moving wings, and without flowers to source, they depend on feeders which can easily freeze up.
“Birds are well adapted to survive cold temperatures, but the main ingredient to survival is to have energy stored in their body,” said Kurtis Huston, bird expert at Wild Birds Unlimited in Kamloops. “Hummingbirds need twice as much of their weight in food to survive winter temperatures and they have little control over food sources.”
Adding to the problem of frozen feeders, B.C. Wildlife Rescue Association has noticed an increase in calls related to hummingbirds with swollen tongues, a potentially fatal condition caused by improperly maintained feeders and frostbite, according to a recent media post by the co-executive director for the association, Linda Bakker.
“It makes it impossible for the hummingbird to eat, and so it slowly starves to death without treatment,” she said in the post. “When we get a call about a hummingbird spotted with a swollen tongue, generally we can assume it is because of one of two reasons."
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Candidiasis is a fungal infection that causes the bird’s tongue to swell and happens when feeders are not cleaned properly or there is an incorrect ratio of sugar to water that creates a breeding ground for the fungus.
The other reason for swollen tongues is frostbite that can happen when a hummingbird’s tongue gets stuck to the feeder. The wildlife association suggests avoiding feeders with metal parts to prevent this, while Huston suggests covering up any metal parts.
“I’ve heard of the birds getting stuck to metal parts but it’s a rare thing here,” he said. “It is much drier here, we don’t have the moisture the lower mainland has.”
Huston said the lower mainland is the hot spot in B.C. for Anna’s Hummingbirds and they are prevalent in the Southern Okanagan. They are known to be as far north as Alaska.
“The Anna’s are originally from southern California but year-round feeders and non-native ornamental plants have caused them to expand their territory,” he said. “Unlike a lot of birds, hummingbirds have a heavy reliance on feeders, especially in the winter.”
While it is difficult to keep the feeders thawed, it is essential to keep them well-maintained, clean and unfrozen.
“If you have bird feeders out you do have a responsibility to keep them clean, provide safe food and equipment and keep up with the maintenance,” Huston said. “Songbirds have a difficult time in the winter and need bir- friendly backyards with trees and other windbreaks.”
READ MORE: Three main types of hummingbird may be spotted at your feeder, says Okanagan birdwatcher
Feeders can be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution, rinsed thoroughly and left down for at least 12 hours post-clean. Feeders should be brought inside at night to prevent freezing.
Huston recently teamed up with a company who makes hummingbird feeders that keep them thawed and they are available at Wild Birds Unlimited at 760 Tranquille Road in Kamloops.
If you have a hummingbird with a swollen tongue around your feeder you can go here for assistance from B.C. Wildlife Rescue Association or call their Wildlife Helpline at (604) 526-7275.
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