“In the depth of winter,
I finally learned that
within me there lay
an invincible summer.”
Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

In the literary world, winter is the season most frequently associated with death. The inspiration for this is readily apparent to even the most casual observer: leafless trees present sharp skeletons against the gray sky, ice creeps over the rivers and seals off the ponds, and animals are scarcely seen amid the frosted fields and meadows. The shorter days and frigid temperatures leave us longing for the warmth of summer, when we can curl our toes in the lush green grass and breathe in the scent of the earth. Yet there are joys to be had in winter that can take some of the harshness out of the seemingly-endless days of muted color and bitter chill.

One of the greatest joys of winter comes in the form of a clear, sunny day. Such is the weather today; it remains cold but the light of the sun adds a perception of warmth to the day. I often feel that we do not appreciate sunny days as much when they are the norm, and I welcome the golden rays cheerfully. That having been said, I also enjoy the snow.

This winter has had surprisingly little snow, but there was a generous flurry in December. Big, puffy, cotton-candy-like flakes drifted down and softly covered the world. One of the beautiful things about snow is how it muffles sound. Standing amid the swirling flakes, all I could hear was the occasional breath of the wind. The temperature was just warm enough for one to pack the snow and make snowballs—or snowbirds. Caught up in the innocence of the world wrapped in white, I piled up some snow and began carving. When I was finished, I had a fat little bird sitting in my backyard, smiling cheerily at the neighbors, but turning his feathered backside to the feeders swinging on a shepherd’s hook. I never took a picture; the joy for me had been in the sculpting and in the memory I now have. The fact that I chose a bird as my subject has more than a bit to do with my affection for them. Friends have dubbed me a bird nerd, and it is a title I carry with pride.

It may come as a surprise to those who live in the Northeastern United States that there are many species of birds that migrate to the region for the winter months. Of course we have our permanent residents—the American Crow, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, and Northern Cardinal to name a few—but winter brings in the elegant Bonaparte’s Gull and colorful Bufflehead.

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

The Pine Siskin and Common Redpoll are also winter visitors.

These little gems are a special part of the winter months, and they serve as a reminder that life can adapt—even flourish—in even the harshest of seasons. There is a wealth of avian life on the water and in the woodlands; one only need take the time to look.
--Gaia_song