HOW BIRDS WEATHER THE WIHTER:Fatty foods and fluffy feathers benefit cold birds, but they still can use our help

摘要

As temperatures drop across much of the country, we don heavy jackets, hats and gloves to keep warm. But what about backyard birds? Like humans, birds are warm-blooded, yet they have higher metabolic rates and, therefore, higher body temperatures—105degrees F on average. When the mercury dips, it can be tough to maintain that heat. Sur-body heat, act as a cocoon of warmth," says biologist Gavin Bie-ber of Wings Birding Tours Worldwide. "Think how a cushy down jacket with an outer waterproofing layer works for us." As for feather-less legs and feet, they're covered with scales that minimize heat loss.