Snowbird

Each year, as winter begins to set in across the northern states, many people—colloquially known as “snowbirds”—head south for the warmer climes of Florida.  In January 2025, the Florida panhandle (where I live) was treated to a once-every-few-decades treat: several inches of snowfall. Within a short walk of my house, a great blue heron emerged from a pond’s icy waters, endured a few brief moments of snow beneath its feet, and immediately determined that this was no place to be.  Just like my human snowbird friends from the north, this heron no doubt left home for a more pleasing setting.