STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Many of the birds we see in summer fly south when food becomes scarce in the fall.
Some species, however, stay all year, and others show up only during the colder months.
For birds that only come in the winter, Staten Island is their version of going south.
These birds spend summers on the tundra or in evergreen forests farther north. In summer, those places have enough food and open water for them to raise their young. But when fall comes, the water freezes and food is hard to find.
Even though winter here on Staten Island can feel harsh, especially this year, it still provides these birds with the food and shelter they need to survive.
Other wildlife, such as squirrels and foxes, become easier to spot among the bare gray trees.