For the Birds: Deep snow, cold not a great scenario for birds

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
American goldfinch eats seeds from a spent flower in New England, January 2026.

A ton of snow followed by prolonged freezing temperatures can spell disaster for birds. Luckily, birds have developed several survival strategies to cope with such conditions.

There are several factors at play in these conditions. I will focus mostly on finding food but will address some of the others quickly.

First, there is the cold. Birds survive freezing temperatures through adaptations that conserve heat and energy. Feathers provide excellent insulation, and many birds maximize this by fluffing their feathers to trap warm air close to their bodies. Birds also have a high metabolic rate, which is fueled by energy-rich foods such as seeds and fat commonly found at feeders.

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For the Birds: Sapsucker make surprise winter visit

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak – A young yellow-bellied sapsucker visits a suet feeder in New England, January 2026.

At first it looked like a growth on the tall bush near my bird feeding station. I quickly realized it wasn’t a growth at all but rather a yellow-bellied sapsucker hugging a small branch.

It was a first-year bird, and its dark coloration, lack of red head or throat, and barred plumage made it look like part of the bush. It also caught me by surprise because yellow-bellied sapsuckers are migratory and are not frequent visitors to feeders. It was also perfectly still for several minutes as, from the comfort of my living room, I watched it brave the single-digit temperatures.

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Howling at the moon

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Chris Bosak

The main entrance to Huntington State Park in Redding, Connecticut, features really cool statues of wolves and a bear.

I had only my phone camera with me last evening, but I couldn’t resist taking this photo at dusk of the wolves seemingly howling at the moon.

For the Birds: Great Backyard Bird Count is coming

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
A red-shouldered hawk perches on a branch during a snowy day in New England, January 2026.

It should come as no surprise that birdwatching is growing in popularity, according to several studies and other metrics. It had been gaining in popularity for years, but the pandemic greatly accelerated the movement.

As I researched the Great Backyard Bird Count for this column, I was surprised at how much birdwatching had gained in popularity, at least as it is measured by the number of GBBC participants.

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January 25, 2026, snowstorm bird photos: round 4

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Phto by Chris Bosak – A tufted titmouse during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026, in New England.

Yet a few more bird photos from the snowstorm on January 25, 2026, in New England.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A male cardinal perches on a branch during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.

January 25, 2026, snowstorm bird photos: round 3

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
A house finch perches in a snowy bush during a snowstorm, January 25, 2026, New England.

A few more bird photos from the January 25, 2026, snowstorm in New England.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A white-throated sparrow perches in a snowy bush during a snowstorm, January 25, 2026, New England.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A female cardinal perches on a branch during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.

January 25 2026 snowstorm bird photos: round 2

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak
A blue jay perches on a branch as a cardinal perches in the background during a snowstorm, January 25, 2026, New England.

Here are some more photos of birds during the snowstorm of January 25, 2026. More photos to come …

Photo by Chris Bosak
Snow gathers on a blue jay’s face during a snowstorm, January 25, 2026, New England.

January 25, 2026, snowstorm bird photos: round 1

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Here are a few bird photos from the January 25, 2026, snowstorm currently hammering New England. I’ll post some throughout the day, so keep an eye out for more photos. What else would you be doing today anyway?

Photo by Chris Bosak
A male cardinal gathers snow on its face during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A dark-eyed junco perches on a fence post during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.

For the Birds: Eerie noises during a night in New England

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Chris Bosak

Photo by Chris Bosak – A red fox works its way through the New England woods.

This fox had no consideration for my sleep schedule.

I was sound asleep when the fox decided it was a good time to sit on the shared driveway that separates my house from my neighbor’s house and start barking over and over. I rolled over, tapped the screen on my phone and saw 3:01 displayed.

The fox was about 15 yards away from where I had been enjoying a good night’s sleep. I pulled back the curtain and there it was, plain as day (even though it was the middle of the night), sitting in the middle of the driveway barking away.

If you’ve ever heard a fox barking, you know it’s not like a dog barking. We’ve all been jarred awake by dogs barking before, but that sound is familiar, and usually the owner is quick to respond and stop the barking.

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