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** The Weekly Bird Word
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01/26/26

This week’s Bird Word:
Piloerection

Have you noticed the birds looking more “fluffy” lately? One way birds keep warm on frigid winter days like this one is piloerection, an involuntary fluffing of feathers caused by tiny muscles in the skin contracting to raise feathers. ([link removed]) When the feathers fluff, air is trapped within the plumage and provides insulation against cold. Feathers can also be lifted by the same mechanism to provide cooling in hot temperatures, making piloerection a critical and versatile thermoregulatory tool. If you have any photos of “fluffy” birds this winter, we would love to see them ([link removed]) - read more below.
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A local Mourning Dove "fluffing up" to keep warm. Photo: Amanda Robinson


** More in local bird and nature news:
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* It’s Officially Borb Season: Now we know birds fluff up their feathers via piloerection to trap insulating air, and we know we have certified borbs: fluffy, delightfully adorable puffed-up birds. Right now, our region is home to world-class borbs. Spot a borb this week? Tag us on social media @nvbirdalliance ([link removed]) !
* Weekend events rescheduled: Due to the wintery weather over the weekend, we made the call to postpone two great events. Our Raptor Rehab and Rodenticide Awareness Event with Dr. Belinda Burwell has been rescheduled for February 7 ([link removed]) . We are still working on rescheduling our Alliance Afternoon speaker, John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds project ([link removed]) . We will keep you posted on a new date!
* Some eye candy for frigid winter days: Cornell Lab’s Best Bird Photos 2026 ([link removed]) presents some of the most incredible photos collected in their Macaulay Library last year. It’s all but guaranteed to make you smile, even in the cold - and make sure you get all the way down to the snowbirds section!
* Christmas Bird Count results are in: Despite wintry weather, our intrepid CBC teams counted 43,729 birds of 73 species. Read the report and check out the data here ([link removed]) .
* Have you seen our Annual report yet? 2025 was a transformative year for NVBA. Take a look at our Annual Report to see why ([link removed]) . We have a new format available for download as a pdf and an online version ([link removed]) .
* We need your help: Check out our volunteer page ([link removed]) for all the different ways you can lend a hand! From pulling invasives to helping with tabling events and counting birds and insects, there’s something for everyone.

Stay warm and see you out there,

The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance Team
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