cold

Bundle Up! It’s Cold Out There /  by Todd Henson

A Great Blue Heron, seemingly huddled up in the cold morning air.

As autumn fades and we approach winter it increasingly feels cold out there. And when it’s cold we tend to bundle up, putting on layers of clothing and larger coats. Viewing todays photograph I couldn’t help but imagine that’s exactly what this Great Blue Heron is doing, hunkered down in its Great Blue Coat, hoping the sun falling on it would provide some small amount of warmth.

Most of the Great Blue Herons in this area have flown south for the winter. But we tend to see some that stick around, either migrating later than most, or actually wintering over. I sometimes wonder how successful they are. I’ve seen them unable to fish in their typical watering holes when the top layer ices over. Is it the same herons each year wintering over, choosing to live here year round as so many Canada Geese do? Or are they just stragglers and weaker birds that stay because they can’t migrate? And if that’s the case how many make it through winter? It’s a bit of a sobering thought, but I suspect (and hope) some make it through fine, just as the geese do.

What’s the weather like right now in your part of the world? Feeling a chill in the air? Or is it actually quite warm where you are?

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Song Sparrow on a Frosty Morning /  by Todd Henson

Song Sparrow contemplating a piece of marsh grass

There are days when it’s cold out and I get lazy. I stay inside, nice and warm, drinking hot chocolate and having plenty to eat. But our little avian friends don’t often have that luxury. Regardless of how cold it is they still need to eat.

Portrait of a Song Sparrow on frosty marsh grass

A number of years ago I found myself hiking through a wetlands park on a morning when everything was covered by a thin layer of frost (I wasn’t lazy that morning). Cold or wet mornings can be very hit or miss when it comes to photographing birds. Though many birds do still need to forage, they often don’t come out in as large a number and they don’t stay out as long.

Song Sparrow pulling marsh grass on a frosty morning

But this morning I had the pleasure of watching a little Song Sparrow foraging through the marsh grass, pulling out pieces not covered in frost. It was very determined, and not very shy, provided I kept a comfortable distance. How far is comfortable depends on the bird and can vary over time. As a bird gets more comfortable with you it will frequently let you get a little closer. And some species just seem less afraid of people than others. But always pay attention to the behavior of the bird. If it starts paying too much attention to you, or startles too much as you move, or moves further away as you move closer, take that as a sign you may have gotten a little too close. Try to stay at a distance where the bird is comfortable with your presence. Not only will you get better images that show a relaxed bird doing what birds do, but you’ll also avoid overly stressing the bird. Putting too much stress on these little creatures can harm them in the long run.

Song Sparrow on frosty marsh grass

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