Frequently asked questions

37 - Q : Were the birds living in the areas hit by the ice storm able to escape to places with more clement weather?

A : That depends on the species. Water birds, like the ducks that gathered in open water on the Saint Lawrence River, appear not to have been affected much, although scientific literature tells of cases in which ice storms that were not as bad as this one caused accumulation of ice on the birds' heads, so they had difficulty maintaining normal posture.

Some species of passerines are considered "nomads". Many people who maintain bird feeders are well aware of this phenomenon: small or large flocks of birds that suddenly invade feeding stations. These nomadic flocks of birds wander large areas that could exceed Quebec's borders looking for food. These birds are able to leave inhospitable areas but still remain in the same latitude.

However, there are other species of passerines that remain in our region all winter and stay in a particular territory that they explore and depend upon for their survival. These birds were probably unable to escape the broad area hit by the ice storm. How did they manage? For the moment, we don't know. This is what we hope to find out in a study that is currently under way.