Barn Quilt

 -25 this morning.  I had errands planned for today but decided I could put them off for til tomorrow. Wasn't all that worried about me but that kind of cold will take it's toll on parts of the car.  So today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday.  A friend sent me an article on how birds stay warm in the winter.  I'd read various things here and there but not an article like this.  Birds regulate how much warm blood goes to their legs so they keep them just above freezing.  Keeps more warm blood circulating through their bodies and lessens how much heat they lose through their unprotected legs.  While some of the far north birds will burrow into the snow, the ones common here don't do that but instead fly into the woods where they can find protection or huddle in a circle.  Woodpeckers will use holes they create or find in the trees.  It explained how to tell the difference between holes made to huddle up in, holes to raise young in, and holes made looking for food.  Will check out the different kinds next time I'm in the woods.  According to the article when some bird when they find a good food source will stuff their crops full and then settle down for the rest of the day.  Made me wonder if the birds I see at my feeders in the morning are the same ones I see at noon.  Anyway, made me appreciate why some birds put all of that energy into flying to warmer climes rather than try to tough it out through the cold.