Furry and feathered friends cope

A Northern Flicker waits for its turn at a bird feeder Tuesday. The snowstorm inspired compassion among avian aficionados, many of whom rushed to bird-feed stores to provide for the winged creatures. (Troy Wayrynen/The Columbian)

Look up.

Black dots against a gray sky, flocks of birds formed v-formations this week as they flapped their wings eastward. But where to? It isn’t migration season, after all. Mightn’t it be smarter to fluff their feathers and huddle like city pigeons?

“They’re moving to food sources or open water,” urban wildlife specialist Karen Munday explained. “They’re going from one pond to another pond.”

Food and water sources became scarcer last week as result of the snowstorm. Birds find it harder to find fresh water, as fresh, shallow waters are frozen. Deer must dig harder for grass to eat. And in backyards across the region, hummingbirds keep round-the-clock hawk eyes on feeders.

Catastrophe for wildlife? Hardly. More like an experiment in survival of the fittest.

“All the mammals that live here are equipped to deal with our winters,” Munday said. “Winter makes it just a little tougher, and the weak and sick may have a more difficult time, and the healthy and strong can deal and get through it.”

On Monday, avian aficionados rushed to bird-feed stores, worried about their winged guests. The Vancouver-Portland area hosts 209 species of birds, many of which stick around for the mild winters. At Backyard Bird Shop in Vancouver, manager Jeff Ernst said his store was swamped. Feeders are like hors d’oeuvres; they’re not the main meal, but they’re tasty.

“There have been some new customers, looking for a place to get seed because they feel sorry for the birds and want to feed them,” Ernst said. For new feeders, he recommends the typical wood and copper feeder to hold extra seeds. He also suggests putting out fresh water.

“Birds do have a harder time with the snow, particularly when the birds in this Northwest region aren’t used to that much snow,” Ernst said. “They come out of the (Washougal) foothills because there’s no food in the foothills. Juncos and sparrows come expecting open fields where they can find seeds fallen on the ground.”

On the domesticated side, large animals hunkered down in their stalls if they don’t have indoor tracks.

Randy Lee, equine veterinarian, said he’s seen horses with minor cuts on their heels from walking through ice-covered snow. He spent the last week driving through snowy terrain in his pickup.

“There are horses stuck in Oregon, where the ice is thicker, and they have more serious cuts,” Lee said. “The main thing is that they have access to water. It’s common for horses to not drink cold water as well as warm water.”

He recommends providing ample hay because it produces heat during the digestive process, which keeps them warmer than grain.

Considering animals in the cold, the Audubon’s Munday says not to fret too much. Cougars, squirrels and deer live in more northern climates and manage easily in cold climates, she said.

“Squirrels are hiding at night in little nests or cavities, finding shelter,” Munday said. “During the day, they’re trying to find food or they’re eating what they’ve squirreled away during more plentiful times.”

Isolde Raftery: 360-735-4546 or isolde.raftery@columbian.com.