Tag Archive | Adaptation
Wintering Chipping Sparrows
One of my favorite winter birds is the chipping sparrow. These petite sparrows are easily identified by a rusty-brown cap on an otherwise dull underbelly with brown striped wings and back. A black stripe through the eye is another identifying feature of this bird. Chipping sparrows migrate south for the winter and each year they […]
Florida’s Winter Warbler
Each winter yellow-rumped warblers flood into Florida to escape the wintry weather of northern U.S. and Canada. In Florida these warblers are ubiquitous; I almost always see them when I hike in the woodlands here. If you look closely at the bird’s bill, you will see that it is pointed. This is indicative of insect-eating […]
Hooded Mergansers in Winter
When I worked at Connetquot River State Park Preserve on New York’s Long Island, I looked forward to seeing the many species of ducks that came from the freezing lakes and rivers of the north. The Island, being surrounded by water and bordering the Atlantic Ocean, usually had a moderate winter making it an ideal […]
What do Squirrels do in Winter?
If you are an eastern gray squirrel you bulk up in the fall by eating acorns, seeds and nuts. This results in increased fat reserves to insulate you from the cold and acts as energy reservoirs during long, harsh winters. These squirrels also cache acorns and other nuts by burying them in the ground. They […]
Winter Survival Strategies of White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer do not hibernate for the winter. They do not migrate to warmer climates. These deer weather the frigid winter temperatures and storms through adaptations that took thousands of years to develop. One adaptation is one that all animals developed to survive the cold. In the summer and fall, when food is plentiful, deer […]
naturechirp 