Effects of very low temperatures

[hatless]

It was -12 C in my garden last night, and I was wondering what such cold weather will do to wildlife.

I assume that small birds are at great risk. There are sixteen hours of darkness when they can't easily feed, snow blankets the ground in many places, and their ability to take enough calories on board to keep warm must be greatly tested. I believe the numbers of wrens fall after a hard winter.

Hibernating animals must be at risk from frost penetrating to where they are hidden. Animals at the northern edge of their range might be in most trouble - grass snakes, sand lizards, and edible dormice, for example, but I imagine that all hibernating animals will be at risk.

I believe that bracken is killed by frost, and that this is why it doesn't grow on the tops of mountains. Are we likely to see much less bracken this spring? (This is a big issue on Ilkley Moor where I live. Frost damage would be most welcome!)

Waterbirds can go to the coast, even kingfishers, I understand. Mice make burrows beneath the snow, but must have a hard time of it, as must the animals that eat them. Grazing animals must find things very hard when there is snow on the ground - sheep certainly need help, so how to deer, hare and rabbits manage?

What about birds of prey?

[sunnydale]

Evening hatless

Yes, it's a testing time for all our wildlife and I guess there will be quite a few casualties, especially where our smaller birds/mammals are concerned
A few nights of freezing temps wouldn't have that much impact....but this has gone on for a few weeks now.

The entire food chain will be affected eventually, if it isn't already, where only the strongest of each species will survive.

All we can do is help where we can.....but in these harsh conditions, we have to accept that there's only so much we can do.

Mother Nature will have her way in the end.

Tracey

[SheffieldLass]

There has been snow continuously on the ground here since Nov 24th. The only place without snow is under my garden chair, and the local rabbits have now found it! Footprints in the snow give that away. It is getting very closely grazed. My kale, brussel sprouts and all but one leek disappeared under snow weeks ago. The one visible leek has been grazed by something. If the brassicas were visible they'd have gone too.

The local pheasant feeding spots attract many rats, and that does provide food for the owls. A local barn owl has moved up from the valley onto the higher plateau into the farm barns, first time it has been reported up there, but there are plenty of rats there, so hopefully it is getting enough food, and it is probably marginally warmer than in the valley.

Some birds will make cold weather movements. I'm wondering whether the song thrushes have done that - I've not seen any recently. Some of the woodland birds have flocked into the nearby villages, hamlets and farmsteads, but goldcrests still seem to be in the woods - about the only birds there.

Snow can make food inaccessible for some creatures, but on the other hand it is a good insulator. Very hard frosts without snow are more damaging for some creatures.

Interestingly the hard winter last year seemed to increase the number of insects around this summer.

[Fauna]

I do hope the Barn Owl as found a good food supply. I've just been reading that the RSPB have had a lot of calls regarding starving and dying Barn Owls this year. A lot of them found in barns.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

A local barn owl has moved up from the valley onto the higher plateau into the farm barns, first time it has been reported up there,

Funny you should mention this....
A friend of mine has recently noticed Barn Owls hunting at night where he has NEVER seen them before, after years of travelling along the same road.

I wondered if they thought there was a better chance of finding prey that had been killed by traffic. It would certainly keep a little energy in reserve if they could find a ready prepared meal!
Are Barn Owls known to take carrion?