British Columbia's birds are in trouble
The cold weather has hit the province's smallest inhabitants, the hummingbirds.
The number of hummingbirds in southern British Columbia that are in trouble due to record cold temperatures has skyrocketed. Last weekend, as many as 33 birds were admitted to the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. The diagnosis for all patients is the same: blood sugar deficiency and tongue damage from sticking to metal parts of feeders in freezing temperatures.
The workers of the center emphasize the seriousness of the situation. Sometimes the birds' injuries are so severe that they can no longer survive on their own. Ornithologists remind of the basic rules for all those who volunteer to care for hummingbirds.
- feeders must not be frozen;
- they need to be kept clean;
- metal elements should be replaced with plastic.
Anna's hummingbirds is a special species of hummingbird that lives in a small region of North America throughout the year without flying to warmer climes for wintering. The species is named in honor of Anne Massena, Duchesse de Rivoli.
However, they are not the only ones suffering due to abnormal cold weather. The Association records an increase in the number of requests for help for songbirds and thrushes.
In the last week, temperatures reached -10°C in the warmest parts of the province and -40°C in the north. In January, British Columbia set several temperature records with an unusually cold winter.
