Winter World, the latest book by Bernd Heinrich, whose books Mind of the Raven and Why We Run
I've reviewed before, is not as ambitious nor as eye-opening as his
previous works, which focused on animal intelligence, endurance and
sensitivity. It's more laid back, and that's perhaps fitting for this
time of the year when the deep freeze here in Ontario seems to be
interminable. Heinrich's lovely illustrations, like the one above,
instil in the reader profound respect and love for the book's subjects
-- the many animals who winter outdoors in the Great White North.
The book is mainly about adaptability. It explains how birds, mammals,
amphibians and insects are able to survive and even thrive in
relentlessly cold and snow-covered lands. The chipmunk above, for
example, builds a 12-foot burrow system that includes a nest chamber
three feet underground, several food storage chambers, and escape
tunnels as well as the main channel. They hibernate, not when it's cold, necessarily, but when there's a low food supply.
Hibernating mammals like the arctic squirrel awaken and warm themselves
up to their usual 37º body temperature periodically during the winter,
for no apparent reason except to get REM sleep.
My friend the beaver, creator of the fine work next door to us (a bog),
builds a conical lodge that looks much like a tepee and functions
similarly. Up to ten feet high, in three feet of water, it freezes
solid in winter, protecting the beavers from the elements and
predators, with a small air vent at the top. Entrance is only from
under the ice, which is why beavers cut trees and drag them to the pond
so they are accessible from under the ice all winter long (beavers
don't hibernate, and eat up to 50lbs of wood per day each).
Wren males build the nest framework, and in some cases build multiple
nest frameworks. Then the females choose their mates, and do the
interior lining and finishing on one selected nest, to seal the
marriage.
The book is an engaging read with some amazing stories. At its heart it
is also a mystery. There are many methods that Northern animals use to
conserve energy, and science is able to show how in combination they
allow so many species to live comfortable lives in what we would
consider inhospitable surroundings. Heinrich's mystery is the
golden-crowned kinglet, a tiny (not much more than 1" long with
feathers, weighing 4-6 grams), energetic bird that is seen periodically
in small groups in Northern winters. These birds defy Heinrich's
scientific explanations and investigations -- with such tiny weight and
size and such huge energy use they should simply not be able to survive
in cold climates. The mystery remains unsolved -- at least until
Heinrich's next book.
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MADE IN CANADA
trust your
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