Winter wonderland

As the Google Doodle reminds us, winter begins today. The solstice marking the start of the new season, and the day with the least amount of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere comes at 5:23 p.m. ET. In honor of the start of my least favorite time of the year, here’s a picture taken in my backyard a few years ago during one of our mercifully infrequent snowfalls.

Male cardinals are especially beautiful and a welcome sight in my winter backyard. Their bright red plumage stands out in gorgeous contrast to the brown and gray, leafless branches of my trees and shrubs.

There are several dozen bird species, including the cardinal, which are year-round residents here in the Atlanta area. They protect themselves against the cold by puffing themselves up, using the air pockets as insulation. And even those birds not lucky enough to enjoy the fabulous buffet that is my array of feeders have little trouble finding food here in the winter months.

That’s why birds fly south for the winter. They’re trying to make sure they don’t starve. They’re not trying to escape the cold. That’s why I like to go south in the winter. Like soccer, beets and Hallmark holiday movies, it’s just not for me. For those of you who love the change of seasons and revel in the prospect of snowy fun, I send my warmest wishes for this cold quarter.