Snow impact on birds

J

Jakeismydog2

Member
Unlike George Costanza I have never claimed to be a Marine Biologist, or a regular biologist. I have learned a lot about upland biology on this forum over the years now. But I could use another lesson.

So far in Manhattan and Hutchinson (the two places I spend most of my time) have had between 7-12" of snow fall with very little of it melt off. The snow has now persisted almost a week. How does a snow like we currently have on the ground effect the birds. How long can they handle snow on the ground with no big repercussions, how long till it starts taking its toll, how long till devastation?

I am asking about both quail and pheasant.
 
As long as the birds have access to food that isn't buried under snow pheasants can survive for months with snow cover on the ground. I'm not sure how long a quail could make it however. I'm not biologist either but most of South Dakota and North Dakota has snow on the ground for months at a time and the pheasants seem to be very hardy and able to tough out the cold spells.
 
The snow on the ground for an extended amount of time is not good for the quail.
I think pheasants are much more able to handle the snow than the quail.
 
I don't think that amount of snow has much of an effect. There will still be plenty of grain available in the fields, as most of the snow gets blown off of those anyway. As far as quail goes, they are much more fragile. But unless the snow gets to 2-3 feet and iced over I wouldn't think it is that big of a deal.
 
Any number of factors mixing in on this. The fact we've had fairly moderate temperatures during the snow cover and fairly reasonable conditions leading into the snow throw things in the favor of the birds. They came into the snow event in good condition. That helps alot. The moderate temperatures reduces the calorie demand on them as well. However, this cold snap is a negative as is the crusted snow and ice on the ground. Pheasants scratch, so some snow cover isn't much of an impediment to them. Quail, on the other hand, don't scratch. Food must be visible for them to feed, thus the snow cover causes them more stress finding the needed calories to survive. The fact we've had some solar input has undoubtedly melted off areas of snow against darker cover like cedars. Those areas will hopefully provide "uncovered" food sources for the birds. My guess is that this event won't have a significant impact on the birds due to these conditions. Of course you can break it down to covey size and many other aspects that will also affect individual groups. Fragment coveys will have a harder time and stand to be the first to disappear should conditions supercede their ability to collect calories and stay warm.
 
So much depends on cover and available food. Bitter cold weather with windchill for long periods is hard on the pheasants. Deep snow makes it worse.

I have observed that open Winters (Winters when there is little or no snow) in Western ND and Eastern MT The carry over for pheasants into Spring is excellent.

The main reason is, pheasants survive in the grasslands and are there to nest in the Spring. During the Winters with prolonged heavy snow cover the grassland pheasants disappear.
The reason there are pheasants in that North country is the dry climate and lots of sunshine. Snow will often melt and evaporate, even in mid Winter. :)

I'm not sure this has a lot to do with KS, Winters up there are much colder and longer.
 
Last edited:
survival

what you are describing is not likely a big deal. one thing that has not been mentioned is, predation. the birds like to sit on the snow banks, especially i think, quail. they then become an easy target for owls and hawks to prey on and prey on they do.

cheers
 
Wish more snow had melted. Haven't been out today; expect remaining snow to have a heavy crust. Northern Missouri will be below freezing for many days to come. Hope enough bare ground is there for the birds to feed.

It always going to be how many birds die over the winter. Expect some to perish even during a milder winter.
 
Crossing shot said:
Wish more snow had melted. Haven't been out today; expect remaining snow to have a heavy crust. Northern Missouri will be below freezing for many days to come. Hope enough bare ground is there for the birds to feed.

It always going to be how many birds die over the winter. Expect some to perish even during a milder winter.
Click to expand...


in as much as a year old pheasant is an old bird, means that most don't make it a full year, don't think it is the snow and cold that is the big killer though

cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top