Fieldfares and redwings arrive from Scandinavia each autumn to winter in Britain, where their welfare depends on berry supplies and the availability of earthworm-rich grassland during cold snaps.
Fieldfare and redwing winter welfare is determined by berry and earthworm availability across a landscape they navigate opportunistically. Flocks that exhaust a berry supply must relocate, expending energy in cold conditions to find the next productive hedgerow or orchard. Management that retains berry-bearing hedgerows and leaves unpicked fallen fruit provides reliable welfare resources for these winter visitors. Severe cold that freezes earthworms out of reach creates acute welfare emergencies; soft fruits provided in gardens can provide emergency energy when natural resources are exhausted.