The Christmas season is one of goodwill, cheer and peaceful intentions, but what may be a celebration for humans can be a tragedy for birds. No matter what winter holidays you may celebrate, decorations, gift-giving and family gatherings can threaten birds. Being aware of those threats is the first step toward minimizing the risks and giving your feathered friends a happy holiday season.

Birds Hurt By Holidays

It isn't just Christmas that poses threats to birds – all winter holidays raise the risk of birds being mistreated or endangered because any prolonged family holiday takes attention away from what is best for birds other local wildlife.

All backyard birds are at risk, as are urban waterfowl such as ducks and geese at local ponds and parks. Fortunately, it's very easy to overcome the holiday risks for birds.

How Christmas Hurts Birds

Winter is already a stressful season for birds when food sources are scarce and the weather is harsh. Holiday celebrations add in a range of additional threats, including:

• Outdoor Decorations: Outdoor decorations threaten birds with tangling in light strands, disorientation from evening lighting and blocking essential roosting shelter. This most affects backyard birds that rely on appropriate food and shelter, but larger birds such as hunting raptors and owls can easily become entangled in light strands as well.
   
• Empty Feeders: When backyard birders are busy cooking holiday meals, entertaining guests and shopping for gifts, there is less time available to refill feeders. While wild birds get the majority of their food from natural sources, a feeder can be a critical food supply in the early morning or late evening, just when birds most need to replenish their energy. If that food is missing, they are more susceptible to cold, predators and other hazards.
   

• Poor Food: While some kitchen scraps are suitable bird treats, it is not helpful to feed birds all the unwanted leftovers from holiday meals. Many holiday dishes are heavily spiced or sweetened, tastes that are even more detrimental to birds, and inappropriate food does not provide the proper nutrition or energy for birds to survive winter cold and storms.
   
• Frozen Baths: Just as backyard birders may have less time to refill feeders during the holidays, bird baths are more likely to dry out if birders are busy with holiday commitments. Birds can melt snow for water to drink during the winter, but doing so requires a lot of energy and calories that can better be used for body heat and foraging. Even a heated bird bath can be dangerous if birders do not take the time to clean it during the holidays, or if it dries out, which can damage the heater.
   
• Disturbances: When nieces, nephews, grandchildren and cousins all gather to visit during the holidays, playing outdoors is inevitable. If the yard they will play in is bird-friendly, the birds may become stressed at the unaccustomed noise and activity, causing them to abandon what was once a sanctuary. Exuberant children can also accidentally damage bird feeders, roost boxes or baths if they aren't used to playing in the yard.
   
• Poor Birding Gifts: There are many great gifts for birders, but there are even more bad choices. While they may be given with the best intentions, poorly designed bird feeders, birdseed stuffed with low-calorie fillers and other inappropriate gifts can encourage irresponsible behavior toward backyard birds, and the birds will suffer for it long after the holiday season ends.
   
• Pet Bird Gifts: A well-meaning friend or family member may give birder a gift not meant for wild birds, but one intended for pet birds instead. If those gifts – bird toys, vitamin-enriched food, etc. – are put out for wild birds, they can be hazardous and unhealthy. Backyard birds are not likely to eat pet bird food, for example, and that food will spoil and may contaminate other nearby food sources.
   
• Fireworks: Many holiday celebrations, particularly for New Year's Eve, include elaborate fireworks displays. Sudden pyrotechnic explosions can disturb roosting birds, and because many passerines do not see well in the dark, the frantic birds may collide with buildings or other obstacles, suffering fatal injuries. Improperly used fireworks can also cause fires that will destroy bird habitats and food sources.

How You Can Help

While the holiday season may create many threats to birds, it is easy to take steps to minimize those threats and still have a festive, cheerful Christmas, Hanukkah or other celebration.

• Leave some trees and shrubs free of lights to give birds a safe place to roost.
• Use large capacity feeders during the holidays so they do not need frequent refills.
• Offer the best winter foods for birds, including high-oil seeds, suet and nuts.
• Check bird baths daily for liquid water and appropriate water levels.
• Monitor children and pets playing outside, or visit a park instead of playing in the yard.
• Give good birding gifts and help new birders learn the best options for backyard birding.
• Create an edible bird feeder garland instead of light strands to decorate outdoors.
• Limit kitchen scraps that are fed to backyard birds.
• Avoid holiday celebrations that feature fireworks and encourage alternative options.

With shopping, decorating, entertaining, baking and more to do, the holidays can be stressful to everyone. Backyard birds suffer from a wide range of holiday stress, but birders who are aware of the threats Christmas and other holidays pose to birds can easily reduce those hazards and enjoy bird-friendly seasonal celebrations.

Photo – Outdoor Holiday Lights © Valerie Everett