How do the Scarlet Macaws cope in winter?
These birds are fully wild. They were never caged and were born free. During the last 25 years they must have experienced nights of up to 24 degrees of frost (-24C). When we discovered the birds in March 2005 it was freezing and snow covered the land. I did not bring my camera then but I can assure you that it was a strange sight.
Curiously the macaws spent that freezing night in a hollow branch of a mature oak tree (Quercus robur). We never since observed them roosting inside a tree except when brooding.
We do not wish to promote keeping parrots outside in freezing conditions for prolonged times (provide your bird with adequate shelter please!) but these birds evidently fared well through them.
The widow that feeds these birds provides them with plenty of fuel though, to get trough such ordeal. In winter they are fed peanut butter sandwiches (don’t feed it to your birds! TOO SALTY! This year they will be provided with biological salt free peanut butter).
Most migratory birds do not leave the temperate zones for the cold. Many insect and fruit eating species find it hard to gather food during winter. In cold times they need extra food to maintain their body heat. Only in tropical parts will they find enough food.
In summer the extended photoperiod of the northern regions means their will be more food availably in places like North America and Europe, more than anywhere else in fact. Excellent times to raise babies
