It’s well-known that birds need appropriate habitat to survive and thrive, particularly during the breeding season. But they need it during winter too.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this Song Sparrow (I believe that’s the correct ID, though in this case I’m not certain) yesterday morning on Antelope Island. This sparrow and others of several species spent most of their time digging through the detritus beneath the sagebrush, rabbitbrush, greasewood and other plants looking for seeds. As I watched them I wondered how all these birds would ever manage to survive without the bushes, for more reasons than one. Besides providing seeds, cover and nesting sites for these birds, bushes like these also provide something else – access to food during winter.
There’s been a thick carpet of snow on the ground in northern Utah for some time now and that snow obviously prevents songbirds from accessing many of the seeds they need to survive the winter. But beneath each plant is a “snow shadow”, an area directly beneath the bush where the snow was prevented from covering the ground by the presence of the plant itself. It’s in the snow shadow that the birds spend most of their time feeding because only there can they access the seeds that have fallen from the bushes. True, some are still up high on the dried plants but by this late in the year most have fallen.
In this image this particular sparrow had fed right up to the edge of the snow around the bush but it went no further for the obvious reason that the top of the snow was mostly barren of seeds. You can see how thick the snow is and how abrupt the border is between the snow shadow and the snow itself.
As I watched these birds I thought about the millions of acres in the west that have been “chained” (dragging huge chains between large tractors and other pieces of heavy equipment) in order to destroy exactly this type of sagebrush steppe habitat and replace it with grasses and other small plants more suitable for grazing livestock. Many of those areas have now been taken over by the dreaded and invasive cheat grass and suitable habitat for these birds is gone. Destruction of these habitats is still occurring (though chaining is less often used) and I see it happening regularly – the most recent example being a large area on the east slope of the Stansbury Mountains here in northern Utah.
Thankfully such activities won’t be occurring on Antelope Island anytime soon because it’s a State Park. But many other areas in the west still seem to be up for grabs.
Ron
Good things to think about. I ran out of seed for my feeders during the blizzard. The birds were ferocious in their feeding so they could stay warm. We had really nasty winds (gusts averaged in the high 40’s but we had at least one that was clocked at 82 at our tiny airport. I’m about 6miles from that airport. ) We actually had snow INSIDE our dryer in the house. I kid you not. We even have a photo of it. LOL
Coincidentally, I took photographs of a Song Sparrow last week, a rare bird in our area here in central Florida. With our warm, sub-tropical climate, he was having no difficulty eating his fill any time he wanted. Now I have a new perspective and appreciate that if he was still in Utah he would be frantically searching for a snow shadow (something I never heard of) for his very survival.
Thank you, Ron, for continuing to educate “the choir”. If even one of us can influence just one other person, especially a child, to take better care of our environment, our species just might have a chance.
Love this little bird and the photo of it
“Grazing livestock” has lead and continues to lead to the ruination of so much of the planet… Argh!
Yup!
The sooner that more of us realise that it is NOT, and shouldn’t be, all about us the better.
Hear hear, EC!
I can only echo Laura’s deptessing words and predictions…. Sadly, I am convinced that she is 100% on target…..
Another eye opener, a subject I haven’t ever thought about. It’s distressing to me that there is so little respect for wildlife and its needs. I’m sick of the prevalence of greed in this country. Money may be nice, but it’s the presence of, and encounters with, wildlife that makes us rich.
Exactly Susan, but how many people wander into The Great Out There anymore? I do a lot of educational talks about raptors and you wouldn’t believe the questions I get. So many people are utterly clueless about wild things, they’re terrified of what happens outside, or they’re inconvenienced by it and want it gone. So frustrating…
A minor example: the jackass who is our code enforcement officer,.who is always on my case because I grow wildflowers (“weeds”)like Chickory and Blackeyed Susans, and let them go to seed, leaving the seedheads standing through the winter. Then in the spring, I break them off and leave them on the ground. He sends me photos of my “weeds” (evidence)and threatenibg “warnings” of fines to come. When I tell him why I do this, he tells me he’s “doing his job” and I’m “in violation”…
Patty, I’ll bet you have a beautiful garden, and I’m sure the birds agree with that assessment. The flowers you mentioned are two of my favorite. When I was living in the east I also liked to grow Echinacea (purple cone flower) because it was attractive to the Goldfinches. And I left the seed heads on all winter, too… I think there’s a saying out there to the effect of “no good deed goes unpunished”…
I grow Echinacea, too…the Goldfinches, in particular, love the seeds–bees, butterflies and hummingbirds like the flowers…I sometimes use an upside down old golf club putter (have never played the game) as a cane and told Ron (Evil Ron), the code guy I’d cut him off at the ankles with it if he set foot on our property ever again…he still sends pictures and threats….buy the only time he came onto the property since that last encounter, he came with his hands up, saying, “Don’t hurt me!”….he used to be a cop and was known as “the ticket master”…,you can guess why…jerk!!!
I love that the evil guy is apparently afraid of you… You go girl!!!!
You crack me up, Patty – “cut him off at the ankles”!
Laura, we volunteer at our local state park (Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site, El Paso, TX) as pictograph tour guides, and one of the real blessings, when we get groups of children who have never spent time in the wilds, is introducing them – and adults – to what is out there. The park is an amazing oasis in the desert, and there is usually some kind of wildlife to see. It is wonderful to have an opportunity to pass on to others our sense of amazement at what’s out there. I agree that not enough people wander into the great out there. But hopefully, we can encourage that by getting kids excited, and having them tell their parents that they want to see more. And get the adults who visit excited about the park. Baby steps in the right direction.
Absolutely Susan! I love talking with children. My heart sings when I pull the birds out of their giant hoods and the kids’ faces light up with wonder with each one. It’s a special magic. I also love it when we encounter folks while we’re out hunting. It’s a special joy to share the wonder.
Sharing that special wonder is a special joy when I open Ron’s blog every morning, too. Ron you rock at that (among other things)! 😀
This old teacher agrees, Susan – education is the key!
You are absolutely right, Ron. My husband is a retired math & physics teacher (his idea of biology is what happens when you drop a person off a cliff…) and he has never lost his passion for educating either. Even though I’ve never officially been a teacher, it seems to be what I have done a lot of, just not in a formal setting.
The birds do struggle – we have many under our spruce trees in winter and, in years like these, there weren’t many crab apples for later use by the birds – Waxwings in particular. We do spread a little wheat in one area for the pheasants and whatever else likes it when the snow is deep and/or it’s really cold. They also surf under the bird feeders. Despite of being in farm land there are many coolies that still harbor brush tho I’m sure it’s never enough. Good shots.:)
Some of us do what we can to help birds out, Judy. Wish there were more of us. I enjoyed seeing the word “coolies” again, reminded me of growing up in Montana.
Ron, there’s a baseline reality that humans can ONLY think in terms of how land can be used for human reasons for fun and profit. That there is no “improvement” on the land means (in their minds) that it’s barren. The idea that it’s home to wild things never crosses their minds. And I think that’s why we’re going to drive ourselves to extinction. I just hope we don’t take too many other species with us when we go. And that fills my heart with sorrow.
I fear that you’re absolutely right, Laura. Depressing, isn’t it?
It’s so far beyond depressing that it’s ridiculous. Most of us just don’t GET it. I’m pretty glad I’m old and won’t see a lot of the destruction…or at least I hope that’s true!