As I write this, there are white-out conditions, winds howling and chill factor temperatures have plummeted well into the minus double-digit levels. Not exactly the type of winter day one would choose to spend outdoors pursuing any kind of recreational activity. However, a look out the window reveals birds and red squirrels flitting in and out of the bird feeder, seemingly unaffected by the brutal weather – which got me to thinking how nature has adequately equipped wildlife to survive such severe conditions.
Many species of the birds we see at our feeders – chickadees, finches, cardinals, bluejays, juncos, etc. – will make quick trips for seed and then retreat to sheltered areas such as nearby evergreens without losing much of their body heat, which is insulated by multiple layers of feathers that they "fluff" to create a thicker "coat" when it's extremely cold. Their featherless lower legs and feet, despite their flimsy appearance, adapt to the cold by reducing the blood flow to those areas by almost 90 percent, allowing just enough to keep them from being damaged by the cold but not sapping body heat. And the feet and legs of those ducks you see paddling on the ice-cold river or standing on shoreline ice react the same way. In addition to a thick layer of downy inner feathers, ducks' outer feathers are coated with oil from a gland near the tail, making them literally waterproof.
Ground-based birds such as wild turkey, grouse and pheasant survive the cold by seeking sheltered areas out of the wind. Both turkeys and grouse will often retreat to heavy conifer stands that offer protection from the weather and security from hungry predators, both feathered and furred. If the snow is powdery and deep, grouse will sometimes nosedive into it, totally disappearing from sight, which not only keeps them out of sight but also provides insulation against the cold. Pheasants are less adaptable to cold and deep snow and require extremely dense, low growing cover habitat to survive the winter. With wild turkeys, long periods of deep snow and severe cold can take their toll as ground-level food is harder to reach, and the cold saps the birds' already stressed energy level. Usually a last resort food for turkeys when they can't reach other foods is sumac drupe kernels (those dark red furry berry clusters). When you see turkeys feeding in the sumacs, you know they're having a tough time.
Mammals are also well equipped to withstand all but the most severe and prolonged periods of cold and deep snow. All of them – from squirrels to rabbits to deer – literally do the same as we do, by donning their "winter duds." As the daylight hours decrease in autumn, it triggers the growth of denser and longer hair on them that will provide insulation against the cold. The term "furbearer" is very applicable to many species, such as fox, coyote, beaver, mink, etc. when winter arrives, since this is when these renewable species will be sporting their most luxurious fur.
Incidentally, prior to our insulated clothing being constructed from petroleum-based synthetics, wool and natural fur was the order of the day. Unlike synthetics, which take hundreds of years to break down in our landfills, these natural furs biodegrade quickly and don't harm the environment. And because today's managed wild furbearers and domestic stock are prolific and reproduce annually, the raw natural materials they provide us with are renewable. Some mammals, such as raccoon and grey squirrel, will retreat to dens during the more severe and cold weather, but will emerge as soon as the temperatures and conditions improve. Coyote, fox, bobcat and red squirrels remain active even in the coldest weather. Cottontail rabbits and varying hares also remain active, but cottontails tend to briefly den in woodchuck burrows or seek refuge under brush piles or other dense cover when the weather is severe. Hares create a "form" or depression in the deep snow – usually at the base of a low evergreen - when winter conditions are the worse. However, both rabbits and hares welcome fresh snowfalls since the added snow raises them higher where they can reach new browse.
Deer can withstand extremely cold temperatures because the heavy winter hair they sport is hollow, providing maximum insulation against the cold. Their biggest challenge in winter is deep snow, which inhibits their ability to move and find food. In extremely deep snow conditions, deer will migrate to lowland areas, often near stream bottoms that contain groves of conifers but also offer browse such as briar, dogwood and red maple. This trait is usually called "yarding" – meaning the deer will stay in that area until the snow depth sufficiently drops to allow movement to other feeding areas. Unfortunately, if the deep snow remains for a long period, winterkill may occur as available browse becomes depleted and the weakened fawns and older deer succumb to starvation.
All things considered, nature has well equipped our native wildlife to survive the winter season. And even during the most severe winters, the mortality that occurs culls the youngest and weakest, thereby assuring only the strongest mature specimens survive to repopulate, making the species even more able to endure the hardships of winter. That said, I'm still glad I don't have to depend on a "Bob feeder" to get my breakfast.

Perch Derby Set To Go
The Lions Club's Annual Chenango Lake Perch Derby is schedule to go Saturday, February 17, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Prizes include: $1,000 to the first registered angler to catch one of the 100 tagged perch that have been released, $150 for the largest perch of the day, and awards every 15 minutes for the largest perch. Registration is $5 per person. For information call Mayhood's at (607) 334-2001.

Crappie Derby Cancelled
Dave Hughes, derby coordinator, has announced that the Annual New York State Crappie Derby at Whitney Point Lake has been cancelled due to insufficient ice. The event was originally scheduled for January 27 but was then postponed to February 10. This is the second consecutive year the event has been cancelled due to thin ice.