 It's common to see many birds migrating to warmer locations in the fall, but what about the birds that stay in Wyoming year-round? How do they survive such cold temperatures and decreases in food sources like plants and insects? These birds depend on high-fat and protein-packed meals to survive. Storing caches of seeds, growing more feathers, building up fat reserves, shivering, dropping body temperatures, and slowing metabolic processes are all ways birds adapt to our freezing weather. Features you may see in winter months include common redpolls, which bulk up their feathers, store seeds in specialized mouth pouches, and even tunnel in the snow to survive. Seed eaters like the House Finch, Dark-Eyed Junko, White-Brested Nut Hatch, and Cedar Waxwing, and even American robins thought to be indicators of spring may stay all winter long, feeding on lingering fruits from juniper berries and choke cherries. Simple ways we can help our feathered friends survive are putting out feeders to supplement their natural diets. To find out more information, check with Audubon Rockies. So next time you glance out your window this winter and the landscape looks devoid of life, look closer, and you may just see some of these little birds working to survive our harsh conditions. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Rachel Miller, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.