Freezing Their Tail Feathers Off?

Long, long ago I learned that down was a very good insulator for clothing like winter coats and jackets. I don’t remember ever owing a down-filled jacket, so I cannot confirm the statement, but I tend to believe it.

At the risk of sounding like Cliff Clavin (from “Cheers”), down is not the feathers of waterfowl. Down is actually the airy plumage found under the feathers of waterfowl. With such quality, down traps air that insulates waterfowl and the wearers of down-filled coats and jackets.

I thought of down and feathers and insulating qualities when I spotted these four trumpeter swans resting on ice that had been open water a couple of days ago. With today’s combination of wind at the speed of our temperature, our outdoor conditions were pitiful. Yet, these swans appeared to be resting comfortably on ice. I do not doubt that the insulating characteristics of down were helping these birds to be as comfortable as possible, assuming the wind was not blowing under the feathers.

Since I was not insulated by any down today, my time outside was brief and pretty much miserable. I don’t often prefer to be inside over outside, but today I did.