Avian Grace
How birds in a snowstorm can quiet the mind
I wrap a plastic bag around my orthopedic boot and hobble out to fill the birdfeeders. I have broken my toe. Packing late at night for a trip to Florida to be with a dying relative, I had gone downstairs in the dark, barefoot, and slammed my foot into an uneven tile. Short version: No trip to Florida. Instead, I stay in Pittsburgh where I have the duty and the privilege of feeding our backyard birds on a snowy day.
How on earth do they not freeze to death in this 9 degree weather, with blowing snow? Sure, they fluff out their feathers. But it’s not exactly a Lands End Squall parka.
I can’t give them heat, but I can give them food. And so I trudge through the snow, shod in my Star Wars storm trooper orthopedic boot, hoping the plastic bag doesn’t tear.
My husband is with his dying sister in sunny Florida. I ache with sadness that I cannot be with her, too. But then I spot one of nature’s gems—-a male Northern Cardinal in a bare tree. A real-life snow globe scene. (Extra points if you can also spot the American Goldfinch.)
My mind clears and quiets, and I remember where I am. (A wise spiritual master once said that a mature spirituality is consenting to be where you really are.)
My sister-in-law died that night, “returning her borrowed stardust” (as Carl Sagan would have it) or “crossing over the river hard to see” (as my Celtic ancestors conceived of the passage from this life).
It’s snowing lightly today as my husband flies home. The feeders need filling again.
AVIAN GRACE
When anxiousness eats at me
like hungry birds consuming seeds,
I say, Birds, shelter in my worried head
and build your nests out of my dread.
Lay your eggs on softest griefs,
on outlived loves, and stale beliefs.
Hatch a brood of feathered ease,
a murmuration made of peace.
Cardinal in the snowy tree,
the sight of you is grace to me.
Kris Haig
So how DO birds survive the brutal cold of winter? Here's some info from the Audubon Society:
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-do-birds-cope-cold-winter-weather#:~:text=Donning%20Layers,a%20heavier%20coat%20of%20plumage.
And more from Google:
Birds don't freeze in cold weather primarily because of their feather insulation, which traps a layer of air around their bodies, keeping them warm even in frigid temperatures; they also often fluff up their feathers to create a thicker insulating layer, and some species may even build up fat reserves for additional energy during cold periods.
Key points about how birds stay warm in cold weather:
Feathers:
The primary mechanism for heat retention, acting like a downy blanket by trapping air pockets between feathers.
Fluffing up:
Birds can expand their feathers to create a thicker layer of insulation when it's cold.
Down feathers:
A layer of soft down feathers close to the bird's body provides excellent insulation.
Fat reserves:
Some birds store extra fat during warmer months to use as energy during cold weather.
Shelter seeking:
Birds often roost in sheltered areas like tree cavities or under eaves to minimize heat loss.
Counter-current heat exchange:
In some birds like waterfowl, blood vessels in their legs are arranged in a way that helps maintain core body temperature even when their feet are exposed to cold water.