When the dew point is at a certain level, everything gets covered with some moisture.
For example: "Frosted windowpanes, candles gleaming inside..." *The Christmas Waltz* Joe Roller, Denver On Fri, Dec 9, 2016 at 2:28 AM, SeEttaM . <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank everyone for sharing about this issue but I have a continuing need > for clarification . Both USFWS and National Audubon as well as a number > of others have previously stated that birds feet don't freeze to metal and > metal feeders are not a risk. Yet clearly some birds have had their feet > stuck to metal feeders or accessories as explained by several in this > thread. > > "Birds don’t have sweat glands in their > feet, so they won’t freeze onto metal > feeders. There’s no need to cover > any metal feeders parts with plastic > or wood to protect birds’ feet, > tongues or eyes. " > https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https:/ > /www.fws.gov/nevada/nv_species/urban_wildlife/forthebirds.pdf&ved= > 0ahUKEwif5M__4ObQAhWjrlQKHZvEBNg4ChAWCF0wEA&usg= > AFQjCNFNKgnEjcF5uo5dnlrJviN2T468yA&sig2=y_RjK6BWq4xnsbkazR3-jQ > > "“Our fingers may stick to metal ice cube trays because moisture freezes > on contact with frigid metal,” explains Kress. “However, a bird's feet are > covered with dry scales, so there is no surface moisture to freeze to metal > perches. Eyes, tongues, and beaks are usually safe from exposure to metal > feeder parts." > Do Birds Stick to Metal Feeders In Winter? | > > > Could there be another reason the birds documented in this thread had > their feet stick to metal--maybe there was melted snow on the metal?? Some > other explanation? Or were USFWS and National Audubon just plain wrong? > > SeEtta Moss > Canon City > > On Dec 8, 2016 6:44 PM, "Eric DeFonso" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Regarding heat capacity...just a small correction to the earlier >> discussion. Metals actually have relatively low heat capacities, especially >> compared to water. What metals do have however is high heat *conductivity*. >> Their free electrons make them especially good not just at conducting >> electricity but also heat energy, and this is why the metal in the feeders >> was so effective at draining the heat from the moisture in the birds feet. >> >> If you've ever lived near a large body of water like the Great Lakes or >> an ocean, you've experienced firsthand the heat capacity of water, with its >> ability to moderate temperatures year round compared to inland or high >> elevation locations. >> >> Eric DeFonso >> Westminster, CO >> >> >> On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 1:23 PM Kathy Kay <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> The very same thing happened at my feeder this very same week last >>> year. I wasn't able to get to the Pine Sisken before it freed itself sans >>> foot (separated at the knee). He still comes to my feeder and bird bath. >>> He seems to be doing just fine a year after the incident. You may see your >>> Goldfinch again soon. >>> >>> Kathy Kay >>> Golden, CO >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 10:34 AM, Christy P <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> You have to be very careful applying heat of any kind to wildlife >>> outdoors, especially one that may already be hypothermic. Oftentimes >>> well-intentioned individuals kill animals trying to warm them back up by >>> putting them into shock. Finding a heat source that only affects the >>> portion of the bird that is stuck, as opposed to its entire body, would be >>> recommended. With something as small as an American Goldfinch, assuming >>> there wasn't a build-up of ice, maybe even just covering its foot with your >>> warm hand and defrosting it that way may have worked, or would in future. >>> >>> Thanks for sharing Ira, it's always our worst fear to leave birds >>> worse-off than they were to begin with. But at least you freed it. >>> >>> Christy Payne >>> Wheat Ridge >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 10:27 AM Mary Keithler <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Ira and birders, >>> >>> Perhaps a hair dryer with a long extension cord would work better. >>> >>> Mary Keithler, Arapahoe County >>> >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Dec 8, 2016, at 8:41 AM, Ira Sanders <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> This morning when I went to put out the feeders, there was a goldfinch >>> hanging from the metal arm of the hooks we use to hang the feeders. At >>> first it wasn't moving and I was wondering how a bird could somehow die in >>> that position. I have no idea how long it was there, but I'm sure it was >>> long enough to weaken it. As I got closer, I saw it's eyes were open and >>> then it started to flutter a little. It's foot had frozen to the iron arm >>> and it was hanging by 1 foot. I ran in to get some water to get it loose, >>> but our efforts, which were incompetent and inadequate, didn't save all of >>> it's foot. >>> My first efforts only caused ice to form and made it worse. >>> The bird did fly from Tammy's hand but part of it's foot was still on >>> the metal. Obviously we did it wrong. In retrospect, I don't think warm >>> water was a good idea at all. >>> In case someone else has this same miserable experience, maybe some >>> forethought could result in a successful outcome and not our utter failure. >>> >>> -- >>> Ira Sanders >>> Golden, CO >>> "My mind is a raging torrent flooded with rivulets of thought cascading >>> into a waterfall of creative alternatives." >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ms >>> gid/cobirds/CABF3siFD4-93S4BVOPBHFU26HE%2BPZEHxTdD-J88oz% >>> 2BN4W0Y3wQ%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABF3siFD4-93S4BVOPBHFU26HE%2BPZEHxTdD-J88oz%2BN4W0Y3wQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ms >>> gid/cobirds/31080AF3-9EB9-4A87-A266-53DA68F4D267%40gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/31080AF3-9EB9-4A87-A266-53DA68F4D267%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ms >>> gid/cobirds/CADobSodOHKwWuYvcqJqLA8ZGUnAo-Em-t8YkqWu2% >>> 2BBDtN-tohg%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADobSodOHKwWuYvcqJqLA8ZGUnAo-Em-t8YkqWu2%2BBDtN-tohg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ms >>> gid/cobirds/CAKYg4NOyHyz6n%2BALnm-tmSJFJa6Fjg8omWz7N2PU1YkYY >>> m5vXQ%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAKYg4NOyHyz6n%2BALnm-tmSJFJa6Fjg8omWz7N2PU1YkYYm5vXQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ms >> gid/cobirds/CAFjVA_ZWDtYH%2B_tpVpc84xqRjxJ8UJ-S%2BcZEz9RRnT >> gefhu5YA%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAFjVA_ZWDtYH%2B_tpVpc84xqRjxJ8UJ-S%2BcZEz9RRnTgefhu5YA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ > msgid/cobirds/CAAUvckp7LEYgg4KeatDrV8q%2Bz%3DruWEKL9fJQBBMqS6%2BX759ALQ% > 40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAUvckp7LEYgg4KeatDrV8q%2Bz%3DruWEKL9fJQBBMqS6%2BX759ALQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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