A Robin in a Snowstorm and A Question for You This robin is in a blizzard. The wind is blowing 35 to 45 mph, and gusting to 70 mph! "The storm started around noon on January 22nd and ended mid-day Sunday, January, 23rd. Overnight temperatures on Sunday evening went down to 6 degrees," says John Deignan, who took the photo in 2005. What do you notice about this bird's feathers? They are so fluffed up that he’s holding his wings down a bit. The bird fluffed his feathers to protect himself from the cold. This fluffiness is important. It insulates the bird’s internal organs so they stay at 104 degrees F. The heart and lungs are pretty far back on birds, and the back feathers help keep these internal organs warm. Journaling Questions: Question #1) From the photo, what things do birds do to stay warm and dry during a snowfall? Question #2) If it's 6 degrees outside, what is the temperature difference between the air and the bird’s heart and lungs? Now compare your thoughts with our expert's >> This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2009 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.