During the recent cold and snowy nights, I was awakened by the sounds of snapping tree limbs falling in the forest down the street. Some of the trees are old and brittle there. I imagined the birds waking up, too, jolted from their feathery dreams to find a new limb in the cold night air.
Birds have many ways to keep warm in cold temperatures. The main way that birds survive cold or freezing temperatures is by trapping air pockets around their bodies. They fluff up their feathers to give them an airy insulation. Some birds will waterproof their feathers with oil from a gland near their tail. Herons grow special feathers to use for waterproofing.
Birds will also crowd into shrubs and vines, sharing body heat.
Food provides the necessary energy to keep birds warm, and they will seek out the usual sources. Many of the birds of Inwood depend on seeds and hidden insects. I’ve seen them gather at the base of trees to forage, and I often see them eating sunflower seeds or other seeds provided by human visitors to the park.
The woodpeckers are good at staying warm all winter, flying into existing tree cavities and by eating insect larvae. They will bore new holes on rotting trees and make new cavities for overnight camping.
Birds will also tuck in their feet and bill to keep warm. Some species will go through torpor, something like hibernation, when they will shut their bodies down for a time.
Many people will seek out similar techniques to stay warm, especially wearing a layer for insulation. A so-called puffer jacket usually does the trick, as it is often made with duck or goose down.
Cover: Male Northern Cardinal in the Clove, Inwood Hill Park. January 22, 2024. 11:27 a.m.
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