Two blue jays perch on a pine branch against a snowy winter backdrop. The blue jay is one of many bird species who does not migrate in order to escape the winter elements.
The loud squawking of blue jays leads my gaze upward. The talkative birds coast in from the distance and land on the tallest tree branches where they continue their conversation. Cardinals are unmistakable with their red plumage popping against the muted winter landscape. White-breasted nuthatches scratch the wood of trees as they crawl around on tree trunks. A downy woodpecker joins them.
I know these birds well. I call them “the regulars” because I happily get to see their familiar faces all year long. So many birds who populate these parts migrate, taking advantage of more appealing locations depending on what a given season brings. But the regulars hardly let seasonal changes push and pull at their presence.
The regulars are not, however, static beings whose lifestyles undergo zero change as the seasons morph from one into the other. The territorial nature of some birds subsides. Plumage can change colors. Diets often switch. Their behavior appropriately adapts to present conditions in order to meet their current needs. And some birds do move to other locations, but their move does not place them very far away. Robins, for example, can be seen just about everywhere in summer, but in winter, they shuffle around as flocks, occupying pockets of land (that usually contain delicious berries) here and there.
The continual presence of blue jays and white-breasted nuthatches is lovely. These birds and I actually happen to share some things in common. We experience both the snow when it falls and the sweltering heat of a summer afternoon. We also witness the comings and goings of birds who do migrate. By occupying the same space with each other all year, I am very familiar with my regular avian neighbors, and they are likely very familiar with me.