Pheasant Fact Friday!💡
In September, many animals are preparing to leave their breeding ranges and migrate to warmer climates. While morning dove have started south, lark buntings are in Texas already, and waterfowl are gathering in migratory flocks, pheasants plan to spend the winter with you. Migration occurs for two reasons: availability of food, and furnace efficiency. If a bird’s foods will be covered by snow and ice, that bird had better go to a climate where food is available. Even if food is available for the winter, air temperatures may get too low. Each bird species has a specific furnace (metabolic rate) to keep it warm. The furnace of migratory birds can not produce enough heat if they stay north for the winter. Pheasants can find the grains they need to stay in your area, and the pheasants’ furnace can supply the heat needed through sub-zero temperatures.
Wintering pheasants can be found far away from grain production areas. Here, survival depends on temperature. Pheasants can live on only weeds seeds through the winter if temperatures allow it. Mild temperatures mean their furnace need not be stoked with high energy grains.
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