How do you photograph “Artic Cold?”

Looks can be deceiving!

The view through the camera has remained the same for several weeks now, but something quite drastic changed in the last 24 hours. A polar vortex arrived.

A polar vortex is an area of low pressure and cold air in the stratosphere that swirls like a wheel around each of Earth’s two polar regions. Sometimes the polar vortex wobbles and a lobe surges south through Canada and into parts of North America with bitter temperatures.

Add 25 mph winds to the colder-than-normal temperatures, and you have a nice recipe for Artic Cold! Frostbite happens in 5 minutes to exposed skin in these conditions. Here was my midday (warmest part of the day) weather on Wednesday Jan. 30th:

Dangerously cold

Practically everything closed ~ schools, government offices, the university and local college and even the USPS! I read that several police departments issued a notice (in jest of course) that illegal activity was called off during this time of frigid temperatures. Our prayers need to be for the emergency crews (firemen, EMTs/paramedics, police, and utility linesmen) who may have to be out this dangerous cold.

How do they survive?

I am always gobsmacked how these tiny creatures can survive these temperatures. But the reality is that some don’t. The best chance of survival comes from food and shelter. I can help with a food source but they are on their own to find shelter.

I saw a male cardinal sitting on the ground across the ravine. He was huddled in a mass of brown, leafy branches trying to stay out of the wind. He later came to the feeder to fuel up.

Have you ever heard the word “gobsmacked?” I first heard it when my brother’s family returned from living in South Carolina, so I’m assuming it’s a southern term. I was curious about it’s origin and found this:

Gobsmacked ~ to be dumb struck (speechless) by surprise

From Coal Mining: The hole created by the removal of waste material was known as the Gob (from the slang for mouth). Occasionally the roof of the gob would cave in this was known as Gob being Smacked. The miners in the surrounding area would get an enormous fright from the incident and would be startled. They were said to have been Gob Smacked.

You’re welcome for the linguistic lesson!

Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker was trying to warm up in the sun before continuing with his suet & sunflower seed lunch.

Winter Fun

I leave you with a fun activity on a frigid day ~ throwing boiling water into the air to see instant crystallization of water droplets. If you try this yourself, make sure the wind will carry the boiling water AWAY from you. Scroll through these quickly to see the progression.

If that’s too tame for you and you happen to be in Whitehorse, Yukon Terriotory, Canada, you can compete in the Freezing Hair Contest at Takhini Hot Springs.

I guess we all have our levels of adventure! LOL

Until next time,

Carolyn

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