What's this wet weather doing to your birds?

[jluna]

hi folks,

here in the blue mountains we are having total winter conditions - thick fog/low cloud every day, intermittent rain, occasional light frosts - my poor birds haven't seen a good sunny day in about three weeks! patches of sun maybe - if they're lucky! thanks, la ninya!

i'm finding this is having two main effects:

- my provisions for insects (fruitfly traps, heavily planted section) are pretty much useless because there are no insects ANYWHERE. the redbrows feeding young are constantly on the hunt to no avail. worried this will cause losses.

- the birds are entering their nests a lot earlier, snuggling up to keep warm, and when they're out, they're fluffed up a lot of the time.

what's happening in your aviaries?

[jusdeb]

Halfway through October and still wintry...I sympathise with you , Ive lived at Bullaburra and worked In Katoomba and know how dismal it can be up there .

I guess last years floods are all I have to go on as far as prolonged wet weather go and it was a very worrying time not only with the lack of sunshine but the constantly wet floors and the humidity .

My birds all survived , some even liked the rain but then I'm mainly into parrots , cant recall the finches suffering .

What can you do besides watch them and bring any that look to be suffering inside under some heat for a while .

I hope you get some sunshine soon for your little birds and hopefully some one may have a more constructive solution to your problem .

[jluna]

yes, you'd know these 'winters' well, deb! but even the old-timer locals are saying this is very weird for mid-october. there's no real 'solution' needed - i for one am big on birds that can handle themselves, and as long as mine can stay dry and warm i'm not too worried about them. babies, on the other hand... just have to keep fingers crossed that parent birds will do their best to keep them warm and well-fed! just saw that sunday is supposed to be fine - here's hoping.

[jusdeb]

Yes spring days in the mountains are usually chiily to start but turn into gawjus sunny days .
The mountains should be alive with flowers in bloom , birds and bees a buzzing and a fresh lease on life not foggy and miserable .

Roll on Sunday .

[Nathan Morleyy]

It's doing them good . They love spring rain.

[jusdeb]

Its not just rain Nathan , the mountains get cloaked in low cloud / fog that can block the sun for an entire day and make everything damp . Day after day would cause me concern too let alone week after week .

Its a very different climate to the plains and low lands .