I will never forget this day.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration – NASA family lost seven of its own on the morning of January 28, 1986, when a booster engine failed, causing the Shuttle Challenger to break apart just 73 seconds after launch. Today the nation reflects and remembers those brave souls that we lost 27 years ago.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt”. (Charles Schulz)


happy-valentines-day-clip-art-5Each year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine.” The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia.

Lovers’ holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. Valentine is considered the patron of lovers and especially of those unhappily in love. The feast day became a lovers’ festival in the 14th century, probably as an extension of pagan love festivals and fertility rites celebrated in mid-February.



Why do birds not freeze


bird3If you were one of the many bird watchers who fell into the Polar Vortex and temperatures dropped to nearly 30 below  you may have wondered how birds survive such brutally cold temperatures. I sure did, I spent much of the cold spell sitting in a cozy house, furnace on, wrapped in warm fleece, with favorite cup of coffee.

On days like these I am always astounded that there are any birds left alive, especially considering that most winter feeder visitors weigh in around 10–25 grams (the weight of 2-5 nickels)! But it turns out that birds employ many of the same strategies I was using inside my house plus a couple more to keep their motors running through cold snaps.

So how do they survive?

Bird Body Temperatures

Birds are warm-blooded animals that have a much higher metabolism, and thus higher body temperature, than humans. While the exact measurement varies for different bird species, the average bird’s body temperature is 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). Body temperature can fluctuate during the day depending on climate and activity, but it can be a challenge for birds to maintain such a high body heat when temperatures dip too severely. Smaller birds are particularly at risk, since they have a proportionally larger surface area on their bodies to lose heat but a smaller core volume to generate it. Even the smallest birds, however, have several ways they can efficiently keep warm.

What Wild Birds Do to Keep Warm

Birds have many physical and behavioral adaptations to keep warm, no matter what the low temperatures of their surroundings.

Physical Adaptations


Behavioral Adaptations




Helping Keep Birds Warm

Even with all these adaptations to conserve heat and stay warm, many birds still succumb to frigid temperatures and bird mortality can be very high during severe winters. Birders who know how to keep wild birds warm in winter can help their backyard flocks have an edge over the cruelest weather.

  • Offer Good Food: Choosing the best winter bird foods to offer means selecting seeds, suet, scraps and other items high in fat and calories to give birds plenty of energy to generate sufficient body heat.
  • Keep Feeders Full: After a long, cold night birds will need ready access to food to replenish their energy reserves. Keep your birdfeeders full of nutritious seed no matter what the weather so the birds know where to go for a high energy meal.
  • Offer Liquid Water: Birds can melt snow to drink if necessary, but doing so will use precious energy that is needed to maintain body heat. If the birds can drink from a liquid birdbath even in freezing temperatures, they will have a better chance at survival.
  • Provide Shelter: Plant evergreen shrubs and coniferous trees that will provide suitable shelter throughout the winter, or build a brush pile to give birds a safe, sheltered place to roost. Adding a roost box to your yard is also helpful.

When temperatures start to dip, it isn’t necessary to worry about how birds keep warm; they have plenty of efficient adaptations to survive even the chilliest nights. Birders who understand those adaptations and help birds with even better food, shelter and other necessities, however, will be sure to enjoy warm and healthy winter backyard birds no matter how cold it is outside.

Winter Birds Myths and Facts:

When it comes to winter birds, it seems there are more myths than usual. Here are a few of the common ones I’ve heard. Hopefully, I can help debunk these winter birds’ myths once and for all with the correct winter bird’s facts.


Winter Birds Myth: Birds’ feet will stick to metal bird feeders and suet cages. Most suet cages have a laminated covering, so you don’t have to worry about birds’ feet sticking to it. But in general, their feet can endure cold weather. Birds have a protective scale-like covering on their feet, and special veins and arteries that keep their feet warm.

Winter Birds Myth: Woodpeckers drill on house siding in winter for food or to create nesting cavities. Though there are cases where woodpeckers find food in wood siding (and may even nest inside the boards), nearly all the drilling in late winter is done to make a noise to court mates. This is their way of singing a song to declare territory.

Information from Birds and Bloom

How do birds say warm

One Lovely Blog Award #3 Thank you for the nomination.



Several days ago, I was nominated for the One Lovely Blog award by ROSE GARDENS AND THORNS Thank you and I am honored.

As a condition for receiving, I am to nominate my favorite bloggers and give seven facts about myself. This award nomination accepting thing sure takes work, cause after this I am to tell each of them they have been nominated. More

My 2nd Liebster Award – I am so honored



I am honored to be nominated for the Liebster Award and want to thank Notes Tied on the Sage Brush for nominating me. It is heartening to have other writers give me recognition for my posts.



  • Post the award on your blog.
  • Write 11 random facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 11 bloggers ( I just did 6) who you feel deserve this award and who have less than 200 followers.


One Lovely Blog Award – 2nd



One Lovely Blog Award – 2nd I’m delighted about the nomination from Happiness Contagious for the One Lovely Blog Award. I graciously accept the award that helps connect and encourages those who enjoy inspiring, thoughtful and entertaining creations from writers.


Liebster Award



So, as I promised, it’s time to reveal some new silly facts about The Crafty Lady behind this blog. First of all, I want to deliver my greatest thanks to Live Now Dream Later who nominated me for another award called the Liebster Award.

It is very similar to the One Lovely Blog Award that I also recently gained. These little recognitions make me feel very special and of course, give me a great excuse to share something embarrassing about myself so that you all would learn to know me better. The rules for the Liebster Award are as follows:

  • Post the award on your blog.
  • Write 11 random facts about yourself.


Path to a meaningful life.



October is Down Syndrome Month




More facts about Down Syndrome here




You’ll fall for anything.



Here are the lyrics from a song by Aaron Tippen.


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