[birdky] Winter Bird Feeding

    This year might be the most critical year yet in feeding birds through
the fall, winter and early spring, because populational numbers have
apparently been reduced by West Nile virus. WNV is now reported from the
Yucatan Peninsula, and from there will move to central and South America.
Our migratory species will be at risk in the southern parts of their ranges,
as well as when they return in the spring.
    Each species affected will go through an "immunological bottleneck," in
which those members of the species that are immune to the virus, even if
only partly, have a chance of surviving; each species should have at least a
small percentage of the population with that immunity. (A human example
occurred in Hawaii, for instance, when the native islanders were almost
wiped out by diseases that Europeans were already immune to.)  Obviously,
for the evolutionary process to work, there must be some immune survivors,
and they should get the best treatment that we can give them. Every death of
a bird that shows some immunity to the virus is critical, and if they starve
to death, or freeze, their genes for immunity are lost.
    Birds with huge populations, such as goldfinches, should be fine. Most
critical are the more specialized species that have smaller populations,
such as red-headed woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, eastern bluebird, all
the owls, raptors, among others. These populations could be wiped out when
the mosquitoes pick up activity in the spring, since their populational
numbers are low to begin with, either as the result of habitat destruction
or simply being at the top of the food chain.
    What can we do? Provide lots of food, all winter and into spring. Not
just seeds, but also suet, peanut butter, peanuts, bluebird pellets, etc. A
supply of water will also help, especially when natural waters freeze. Keep
up the feeding, and include hummingbird and oriole nectars along with other
food,  in spring.
    We can't eliminate the virus, but we can insure that many birds do
survive, and hope that the genes for immunity are not only there but spread
through the populations quickly. The more successful nestings, the better
the chance that genes for immunity will be in some young birds. The more of
those young birds that survive, the quicker the genes will permeate the
population. Feeding will help to insure a successful effort on our part.
Thanks.

Brian Myres
myresb@xxxxxxx

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