At a time when thousands of homes are snowed in and without power, it can be hard to think about backyard birds. An overnight cold snap can freeze birds in their beds, and a heavy snowfall can bury natural food sources. While birds do have many ways they keep warm, birders can help reduce weather-related bird mortalities with a few simple steps.

• Put up a bird roost box for instant shelter
• Keep feeders filled with the best winter bird foods
• Use a birdbath heater for liquid water

Birds are adaptable and can fend for themselves even in the worst weather, but a little help from compassionate birders can make survival easier.

What do you do to help birds survive winter weather? Share your backyard tips in the comments!

Song Sparrow in Snow
Photo © Noël Zia Lee

The annual "Mud Ops" exercises by Marines stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i are not only a great training opportunity, but also part of a wildlife management plan to help endangered Hawaiian stilts. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, the exercises involve driving amphibious assault vehicles through mud flats at the Nu'upia Ponds Wildlife Management Area, an area home to more than 50 species of birds.

The exercises will help break up weeds, including the invasive pickleweed, giving birds better foraging grounds and more suitable nesting areas. In the 28 years the exercises have been planned, the Hawaiian stilt population in the area has nearly tripled.

The Hawaiian stilt, or ae'o, is a subspecies of the black-necked stilt, and today the total population is estimated at only 1,500 birds. Feral cats and dogs, illegal hunting and habitat destruction are some of the most prominent risks this bird faces, and restoring habitat through these "Mud Ops" exercises can go a long way toward increasing the wild population.

Pickleweed
Photo © Jerry Kirkhart

Central Park is one of the best birding locations in the United States, with nearly 200 different species visiting the park throughout the year. Birders need to exercise caution, however; according to CNN Health, a rabies outbreak has been reported among Central Park raccoons. More than two dozen confirmed cases have been found since December 2009, compared to just three cases in the previous six years.

While birds do not contract rabies, the infected raccoons may be roaming in the same areas where birders hope to spot different species. Raccoons are nocturnal, and any raccoon active during the day and seeming unafraid of humans may be infected. The city is taking steps to curb the outbreak, including vaccinating wild raccoons and increasing surveillance of the raccoon population to spot potentially infected animals, but everyone visiting the park and nearby areas should be cautious.

Birders should always exercise caution in the field, including being aware of and respecting other wildlife.

Have you been birding in Central Park? Share your tips in the comments!

Raccoon
Photo © David Slater

It's no secret that Dawn dishwashing liquid is used for wildlife rehabilitation - the gentle soap helps remove oil and grease from contaminated birds but will not harm feathers. In the past 30 years, more than 75,000 animals have been saved through the use of Dawn in cleanup and rescue efforts.

Now, anyone can help rescued birds by using Dawn and making a free online donation to the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center. Simply purchase a bottle of specially marked Dawn and visit DawnSavesWildlife.com to activate your donation code - it only takes seconds. For every activated code, Dawn will donate $1 to help clean up and conserve wildlife, up to a total of $500,000.

More than $317,000 has already been donated, and the program continues through September 30, 2010. For more information, including how to activate your donation and state-by-state tallies of donations, visit DawnSavesWildlife.com.

Soap Bubbles
Photo © Scott Robinson