The Boreal Chickadee, is a bird that can be spotted all year in the Canadian Rockies. If it does make a move southward, it’s due to a lack of food and not getting away from winter. To stay dry in winter, the chickadees have a preen gland near the base of their tail. They use their beak and feet to spread the oil from the gland all over their feathers to repel water. They flex their pectoral muscles to create heat, which is trapped in fluffed up feathers. Feathers are great insulators. Just ask anyone with a down jacket. Before winter, the chickadees put on heavier plumage. The denser feathers create a more comfortable personal parka for the birds. During deep cold temperatures, the chickadees adapt by lowering their body temperature at night, from 40 degrees Celsius to 29. Helping them conserve body fat. They also cache food, which can be retrieved during the harsh winter months. Not bad for a bird that weighs the equivalent of two sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper.
