Frozen hummingbird feeders can cause "life-threatening injuries" to these colourful birds, warns the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC.
Not only can the lack of food make their blood sugar levels plummet, leaving them "weak and vulnerable to predators," they can also get tongue injuries if there's frost on feeders or if their tongues stick to metal parts, explained Jackie McQuillan, programs director with the Burnaby-based non-profit.
“Sometimes the damage is too severe for survival, so prevention is key,” he said.
“Keeping feeders thawed and clean is vital during a cold snap to prevent injuries and the spread of disease. Avoid feeders with metal parts during cold weather to avert the threat of feeding birds’ tongues becoming frozen and stuck."
Wildlife Rescue recommends feeders be cleaned and maintained regularly following their guidelines, which can be found here.
Furthermoe, with the first reports of hummingbird babies in, Wildlife Rescue urges the public to watch for heavy snow on branches where nests have been built and carefully clear the snow to prevent the branches from collapsing.
If anyone sees wildlife in distress, they can report it to the Wildlife Rescue Support Centre.
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