Some people complain about the weather.

It’s “what they do.” Too sunny. Too hot. Too breezy. Too cold. Too rainy. The list goes on and on.

It amazes me that no matter what the weather, there is something to complain about. It seems like the winter’s cold really brings on the complaints more than any other time of the year.

Humans go to great lengths to shield themselves from the cold by layering on protective coverings, heating car seats and steering wheels, and creating warm, toasty homes.

Hunkering down when it gets cold

It’s that first cold snap that has people worried about the harsh weather and songbirds out in the cold. Just like humans, they have ways to cope.

Their first defense against the cold is their feathers.

Feathers provide remarkable insulation against the cold, and the oil coating on the feathers provide waterproofing. So where does this oil come from? At the bases of tails, the uropygial glands are an essential part of preening. The oils help waterproof feathers and keep them flexible.

While preening, birds spread these oils to each feather evenly coating each feather. This waterproofing is important because the only thing worse than being cold, is being cold and wet, which I can attest to because once when hiking I fell into a stream. I was trying to navigate over an ice-covered log and did not make it across to the other side. It was a most unpleasant experience.

I can be found under a fluffy, down-filled comforter and binge-watching horror movies on a cold Friday night. And, once I am nestled in under those feathers, a warm pocket of air surrounds me. I am very reluctant to get out from underneath those feathers.

Birds fluff their feathers trapping as much air as possible next to their warm bodies heating the air between the feathers. The more trapped air, the warmer the bird.

It’s all about layers

Birds also layer up! Their layering up often involves growing an extra set of insulating downy feathers. They can also accumulate fat as both an insulator and energy source.

More than 10 percent of winter body weight may be fat in certain species, including chickadees and finches. As a result, some birds spend most of their daylight hours seeking fatty food sources, making feeder food essential for surviving a frosty night.

A variety of good quality seeds such as black oil sunflower or mixed seeds will attract chickadees and finches while woodpeckers prefer suet feeders. A safflower or sunflower-filled feeder will entice the usual visitors plus larger birds like cardinals and red-winged blackbirds. A steady source of food helps the birds regulate temperatures.

Are my feet cold?

But what about legs and feet? It’s not like birds have pockets they can stick them into … or do they?

By shifting from foot to foot, birds keep their legs and feet warm while the other is tucked up in those feathers. They will shift from one foot to the other when one foot gets cold.

Birds’ legs and feet are covered with specialized scales helping to reduce heat loss. Birds can also control the temperature of their legs and feet separately from their bodies by constricting blood flow to them, reducing heat loss without risking frostbite. Neat, huh?

Shivering for warmth

Some birds are experts in shivering. Birds shiver by activating opposing muscle groups, creating muscle contractions without all of the visible trembling typical when mammals shiver. This form of shivering is better at retaining and maximizing the bird’s heat.

While shivering does require more calories, it is an effective way to stay warm in extreme conditions, as least for brief periods.

On sunny winter days, many birds warm themselves by turning their backs to the sun and raise their feathers slightly allowing the sun to heat their skin and feathers quickly.

Keeping warm when the sun is up is one thing, but when temperatures drop, and birds must rely on every adaptation they have to survive while they sleep.

One strategy used by black-capped chickadees and other small species is that they can voluntarily reduce their body temperature as much as 22 degrees from their daytime temperature in a process called regulated hypothermia.

Help the birds

Here are a few things that will help the birds get through the harshest of winters: high quality seeds, suet, nuts, and other items high in fat and calories to give birds plenty of energy to generate more body heat, creating a windbreak by putting food by sheltered areas or planting evergreens and making water available in a heated bird bath. Birds can melt snow in order to get the water they need but doing that lowers their bodies’ temperatures and uses energy that is needed to maintain heat.

Right now, I’m going to make a cup of tea, get some cookies, put on some warm pajamas, get under the down-filled throw blanket, and grab the remote to scroll for something scary. Time to shiver … but not from the cold!

Jeannie Carl is a naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. The center rehabilitates injured animals and educates the public on a variety of wildlife found in the area. For information on the Carbon County Environmental Center, visit www.carboneec.org.