Nalu
Loc: Southern Arizona
I was going thru some older files I got at Bosque last December and found this that I found interesting. Not a great photo, taken before sunup with an ISO of 5000, but what I found of interest was the ice on the Sandhill's foot. For that ice to have formed, it means the bird had to have been stationary overnight long enough for it to have been able to form. The adaptation of these birds to withstand the cold temperatures in their feet and legs is pretty amazing to me, as compared to a human (some of my friends might debate whether I am human or not). What furthermore surprises me is that even though they can stand in freezing water for long periods of time, when they are airborne in cold weather, they tuck their legs and feet under their body apparently to keep them warmer. How can they go through overnight in freezing water, but demonstrate the behavior of trying to keep their feet warm while flying in cold temperatures? Maybe you ornithologists out there can share some information on this?
Never saw this before! Interesting! I have seen ducks frozen unharmed in the pond.
Maybe they tuck their feet for better aerodynamics in flight? I don't know.
That is new to me. But then I live in Louisiana. We don't get frozen ponds too often. (It does happen, though).
Nalu
Loc: Southern Arizona
Mustanger wrote:
Never saw this before! Interesting! I have seen ducks frozen unharmed in the pond.
Maybe they tuck their feet for better aerodynamics in flight? I don't know.
In normal flight Sandhills have their legs extended behind them. Thanks for looking and your comments.
Possibly a criminal crane wearing an ankle monitor?
joecichjr
Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Nalu
Loc: Southern Arizona
Wow, you are looking back into the archives. I am no biologist, but I find it interesting how birds like cranes can roost overnight in a frozen over lake and not suffer some sort of hypothermia. I suspect they can feel the cold, because on cold mornings they will fly with their legs tucked under them to keep their feet warm. Just can't imagine standing in a frozen over pond overnight.
Thanks for looking at some of my older posts.
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