Goose bumps as Canadians try to keep their feet

A CHILLY January day in Britain may be nowhere near as harsh as winter in their homeland, but these Canada Geese could be skating on thin ice as temperatures plunge.

The cold snap which has seen much of the country covered in snow has frozen over Kew Gardens' lake, much to the consternation of the local bird life.

Native to Canada and Alaska, the birds can weigh up to 2.7kg (6lb) but they are welladapted to walking on land - and, it seems, the icy sheets covering lakes and ponds in London this week.

They are a common sight beside most lakes and ponds in this country, and feed primarily on vegetation, although they are partial to the odd bit of salmon.

However these picturesque scenes can also be potentially fatal for birdlife, depriving them of vital water supplies.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: "When we get hard weather like this, it can have a tremendous impact on birdlife, although most will survive it as long as it is a short cold snap and not a prolonged one.

"If people want to feed birds, this is the time of year to do it, as they need all the help they can get."

The RSPB advises people to ensure that bird baths and ponds in their gardens are kept free of ice in order to help local birdlife, although nothing should be added to keep supplies thawed.

"We have had people put salt and even antifreeze into bird baths, which is not a good idea," said the spokesman.

High-energy, high-fat foods should be put out, such as peanuts, pumpkin seeds and even cheese or leftover mince pies.

The spokesman added: "Basically, anything that is bad for us is going to be good for them, so if you are starting a New Year diet, the best thing you can do is throw out your Christmas leftovers for the birds."

Copyright 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.