Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
One of my favorite winter pastimes is snowshoeing. There’s just something fun about traipsing through the woods on top of the snow. I have however been in the situation where you take a step and just keep sinking, wishing you had snowshoes to make walking a bit easier! Our feathered friends, the Ruffed Grouse, don’t have to worry about this! They always have their snowshoes with them when they need them. In fact, they grow their own! As daylight amounts decrease in the fall, this signals the grouse to grow their “snowshoes.” Fringes of scales, like the teeth of a comb grow out from their toes, increasing the surface area of their feet just like snowshoes do for us. These scaly growths are called pectinations. Grouse spend a majority of their time walking instead of flying so these snowshoes help to conserve energy when it means the most in the winter. Around April or May, the pectinations will fall off since they are no longer needed. There are a few other things grouse have and do that help them to survive our Minnesota winters. Unlike many other birds, grouse grow feathers on their legs that help to keep them warm. They also have feathers around their beak that cover their nostrils, acting like our nose hairs to warm the air when you inhale.
If there is deep, fluffy snow (at least 10 inches), grouse spend their days on top of the snow, and nights under it. They will plunge into the snow, then burrow in farther until they’re out of sight. The snow provides insulation, keeps them out of the wind, and safe from predators. Then in the morning they’ll fly out, leaving wing prints on the sides of their tunnel. Who knew these birds were so equipped for snowy winters?
1 Comment
Patricia Kenney
10/24/2020 09:38:11 am
You remind me of me when I was young. Protect those knees!
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