{"id":14857,"date":"2020-11-02T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14857"},"modified":"2020-11-02T11:53:37","modified_gmt":"2020-11-02T16:53:37","slug":"take-5-songbirds-in-the-snow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-songbirds-in-the-snow\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Songbirds in the Snow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Well, it’s official: the first snow of the season has fallen on parts of Massachusetts, and while the human residents have a range of reactions (joy, frustration, excitement, disgust, and even denial, depending on your opinion of October snowfall), our native birds, too, have a variety of ways to cope with stormy weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birds that typically roost or take refuge in shelters of some kind will do so, either in natural cavities or nest boxes, sometimes huddling together to share heat. Perching birds will perch as close to tree trunks on the leeward side (sheltered from the wind) as possible, taking advantage of the natural grasping reflex in their feet to stay put, even as they sleep (possibly even entering a state of torpor, or lowered metabolism and body temperature, to conserve energy). Herons and other wading birds will find what shelter they can in low vegetation, while some ducks and other swimming birds will actually ride out the storm on open water, tucking in their extremities for warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To commemorate the first snowfall of the season, here are five “songbirds in the snow” from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Eastern
Eastern Bluebird \u00a9 Norman Corliss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Black-capped
Black-capped Chickadee \u00a9 Katie Busick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Pine
Pine Warbler \u00a9 Susan Bryant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Dark-eyed
Dark-eyed Junco \u00a9 Andy Eckerson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Northern
Northern Cardinal \u00a9 James Minichiello<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, it’s official: the first snow of the season has fallen on parts of Massachusetts, and while the human residents have a range of reactions (joy, frustration, excitement, disgust, and even denial, depending on your opinion of October snowfall), our native birds, too, have a variety of ways to cope with stormy weather. Birds that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":14859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/1866NormanCorliss6543-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3RD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10678,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-snow-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Snow Birds","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Snowstorms can cause headaches, but also a beautiful backdrop for photography. As you make preparations for the next nor'easter coming our way, enjoy 5 photos of birds in snow from past photo contests and read up on how birds prepare for storms.","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blue Jay \u00a9 Sarah Keates","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/658SarahKeates7565-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/658SarahKeates7565-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/658SarahKeates7565-600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12233,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-falling-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Falling Snow","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"There's something a bit magical about falling snow. Sounds become muted and soft, many winter birds and other wildlife seek shelter to conserve energy, and a gentle hush falls over the natural world. Here are five photos that capture the soft quietude of a winter snowfall, taken from our annual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Park Bench \u00a9 Priya Ramachanriya Surendranath","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2652Priya_RamachanriyaSurendranath9462.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2652Priya_RamachanriyaSurendranath9462.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2652Priya_RamachanriyaSurendranath9462.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2652Priya_RamachanriyaSurendranath9462.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2982,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-other-snow-bird\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":2},"title":"The Other Snow Bird","author":"Rosemary","date":"January 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Snowy owls have been getting a lot of attention this season, mainly due to the large influx we are seeing in the Northeast. These owls aren't the only birds that prefer the comparably mild Massachusetts winter over the extreme temps in the Arctic tundra. Snow buntings\u2014sometimes known as the \u201csnowflake\u201d\u2014also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/11\/bunting2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12205,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-winter-songbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Winter Songbirds","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Whether you\u2019re briskly pacing across Boston Common or gazing out your kitchen window into a snow-covered suburban backyard, birds can be seen all winter long. The birds featured below are some of the most commonly seen species in winter all across Massachusetts, and many of them will readily come to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Bluebird \u00a9 Cheryl Rose","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13522,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-snow-buntings\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Snow Buntings","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Snow Bunting is the quintessential winter songbird visitor: they breed in the Arctic in summer, making their nests in the rocky tundra, and only visit Massachusetts when they \"fly south\" for the winter. In fact, their breeding range is so far north that it exceeds that of all other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snow Bunting \u00a9 Lee Millet","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3082,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/bird-storm-prep\/","url_meta":{"origin":14857,"position":5},"title":"Bird Storm Prep","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Stormy winter weather could drive even the hardiest souls indoors. 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