Hey all, I really appreciate all the information that has been shared on this subject and I have learned a lot from it. I'll be taping the cast iron hooks to try to keep this from happening again. I'll probably use cloth electrical tape as I think it will hold up better than duct tape. To answer what SeEtta said, the best I can guess is that the goldfinch had been at the water feature bird bath before going to the feeder pole, and it's foot may have been wet. I haven't had any trouble with birds sticking to the metal style thistle feeders that I use.
Ira Sanders On Fri, Dec 9, 2016 at 12:35 PM, Joe Roller <[email protected]> wrote: > 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=AFQj >> CNFNKgnEjcF5uo5dnlrJviN2T468yA&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%2BN >>>> 4W0Y3wQ%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%2BcZEz9RRnTg >>> efhu5YA%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/ms >> gid/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. > 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/CAJpZcUA1B0%2BJ7UAHnM4%2BzmL_5Bj_ > w52OA20NWRUodMCR-JzcWA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUA1B0%2BJ7UAHnM4%2BzmL_5Bj_w52OA20NWRUodMCR-JzcWA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- 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. 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