I reckon I could power the national grid if Icould capture the energy from my constant shivering.
Still. I can always turn-up the heating, chuck another log on the fire or pull on another of my Mum's knitted jumpers. Blue tits, sparrows, starlings (pictured) and robins don't share that luxury.
Generally, birds need to maintain a body temperature of around 40 C. That's 3 degrees higher than us mere mortals. Bear in mind the size of their bodies and you can see why keeping warm is tough for a bird in the mildest of winters.
Feathers are great insulators, but they only retain as much heat as a bird can generate from the food it eats. You and I can nip out to the shops or order a curry. Birds have to expend much needed energy seeking natural food such as seeds, worms, berries or insects. The sad truth for them is that it's all buried in snow at times like this, or locked away in solid ice. This leaves birds desperate and more likely to venture into our gardens and open spaces for grub. Look out for unusual garden visitors like redwings or yellow hammers.
Enter the festive season by committing a random act of kindness and put out a saucer of food scraps or invest in some bird feeding kit. A bowl of fresh water will be welcome too.
Having commited this random act of kindness, get back indoors to warm-up and enjoy the spectacle of the wild birds that come to feed. Having been virtuous, you can reward yourself with a guilt free bar of RSPB chocolate.. because you're worth it.