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Re: Water for birds
- To: CarolinaBirds <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: Re: Water for birds
- From: Mike Skakuj <mskakuj@nc.rr.com>
- Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 15:27:42 -0500
- References: <002e01c1c3af$343b9e20$555089d0@default>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Indeed the water supply is one of the most (if not THE most) important factor
of bird live. Water is necessary as main substrate of birds (our) body and play
a critical role in physiology. Birds (we) cannot digest and heat the body (not
mentioning all the others) without good sources of water. The organism can
survive a few times longer without food than without water. Birds to use their
fat deposit (more important in colder days) they need to use water (as well as
in very hot days, the "cooling mechanism" is much more energy consuming than
heating one). So called "physiological drought" (sorry if it is not proper
english term) if water is around but is inaccessible ( frozen) is very
dangerous for birds. That's why in cold days there are so many different birds
species around unfrozen paddles along roads if there is no other "water supply"
in the vicinity. So, the idea to have unfrozen bath (heated water dish) for
birds near a feeders is very important if w wont to help them in winter.
Uff, that wasn't easy in english...
Mike
Reece Mitchell wrote:
> If anyone had any doubts about birds needing a good source of water in cold
> weather, today would convince them.
> There has probably not been 10 consecutive minutes all day when at least one
> bird was not on our heated water dish. At least 10 species including
> Robin,Bluebird, and Mockingbird.
> Temp. below freezing all day.
> Reece
> Reece 'n Judy Mitchell
> Flat Rock, NC
> rmitche2@tds.net
--
************************************************
Michal Skakuj Ph.D.
4600 University Drive # 1312
Durham, NC 27707
phone, fax: (919) 402 9961