MAKING IT IN WINTER PART II - A Dark-eyed Junco in the snow. Birds retain core body heat by fluffing out their feathers - often appearing almost twice their size - thickening the insulation around their bodies.

HOW DO THEY MAKE IT? - Black-capped Chickadee in blowing snow. I wondered how these tiny birds make it in really cold temperatures? In addition to frequenting high energy black oil sunflower seed feeders constantly - Chickadees can drop their body temperature by about 5 degrees at night and go into controlled hypothermia to save energy.  

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH -  Red-breasted Nuthatches typically nest in the far north. In years when the number of Spruce and Pine seeds  in the Northern forests are low, Red-breasted Nuthatches move South in large numbers - some of them have become permanent residents, largely due to a reliable source of seeds at bird feeders.