JACKSON HOLE, WYO – A sure sign of spring is the spotting of mountain bluebirds. At Buckrail, we hear tell a few adventurous ones already here.
What do the more delicate songbirds do when they arrive on a sunny and 50F day but, inevitably, there are still some of those 30F and snowy days to come?
They huddle, of course. According to US Fish and Wildlife Serive, some animals rely on one another to weather winter’s wrath. The snuggle-up strategy even has a scientific name: kleptothermy. That means stealing body heat from others. But it’s more like sharing than stealing.
The trick for some birds is to get close enough to share warmth but not so close as to compress feathers and reduce insulation. Other animals that huddle for warmth include penguins, bats and sea lions.
