By Terry Hannum

Contributing Writer

Audubon never thought to track this species, and Roger Tory Peterson may have considered himself to be of the same feather as the north-south traveling "snowbirds."

A relatively new breed, snowbirds do not have specific destinations, but the general pattern is warm climates in winter and cooler home turf for the remainder of the year.

No feathers present, the snowbirds are our family, friends and neighbors who make scheduled relocation plans each year as winter approaches.

Dick and Shirley Nesbit of Hobart have stayed close to home for many years between work, children and grandchildren; the four seasons of Delaware County were all too familiar. As with many beginning snowbirds, retirement brought more leisure time and a renewed energy for travel and adventure for the Nesbits.

Several short trips to South Carolina and Florida during vacations were on Dick’s mind, especially as he shoveled snow from a long driveway, he said. The first year after finishing his career, the couple traveled to Alaska, but warm weather was always a lure, especially as the darkness and cold of winter settled in.

A foreboding dread of winter that begins as early as June or July is one snowbird symptom, as is an acute awareness of how many friends and neighbors have abandoned Northern winters and how happy they seem.

Light is a necessary elixir for the body, as long as the sun’s harmful rays are in prudent moderation with protection. Research shows that many people suffer from a winter depression, which is usually caused by a lack of sunlight.

The South certainly has a great deal more sun shining in the winter, and the sun and warmth makes travel, walking, pedaling and doing all sorts of outdoor activities much more realistic.

Snowbirds are often active and healthy people who want to remain so, but the confinement that winter in snow territory brings is stifling for them.

Indoor golf and tennis are available for Northern nesters, but there is no disputing that it is not the same as being on an open-air playing field. The risks can be greater for slipping on ice and car accidents from slides, and pneumonia is much harder to recover from as a person ages.

Health care for an aging population in the Southern states is very good.

Doctors, hospitals and clinics have reasonable rates to attract business and ample facilities to accommodate the growing number of clientele.

Regardless of all that is offered medically, many snowbirds opt to have all doctor, dentist, pharmacy and health-care services done in their smaller and more personal hometown setting.

Local and state governments are impacted by the movement of snowbirds in many different ways, including the population density fluctuations, health-care initiatives and services, public transportation and other government regulated areas.

Election Specialist Betsy Cunero, with the Otsego County Board of Elections, explained that a problem her office is faced with, especially in presidential primary year such as next year, is late absentee ballot application requests.

The primary election in February will be when snowbirds are South, unable to stop into the elections office and fill out registration forms. A typical scenario that takes place is a panic wave of calls coming in to request the forms, she said.

Cunero said she encourages all who know that they will be away during the primaries to fill out the registrations now.

Typically, the form is good for one election only, but because of the primaries and the regular elections, it will be good for both.

The applicant completes a section on the form that shows the planned dates of departure and return, knowing that plans can change. This process starts the voter wheels in motion so that mailing addresses are already in place. Cunero strongly encourages any Otsego snowbirds or soon-to-be snowbirds to call her office at 547-4247 to prepare for the February voting opportunity, or they can go online to www.otsegocounty.com where a blue bar offers a directory alphabet. Go to "B," then Board of Elections, for complete information.

The travel and vacation industry thrives with the snowbirds migration. Alan Panicucci is a sales representative with a nationally known recreational vehicle/motor home company based out of the Denver, Colo., region. Panicucci said that despite fuel prices, the sales figures for the luxury homes on wheels to older Americans has actually increased in some parts of the nation.

Many, like the Nesbits, view fuel costs as not much of an issue _ either they pay fuel prices for heating a home in the North winters or pay fuel prices to drive south.

Otsego County Economic Developer Carolyn Lewis reported that there are a significant number of seasonal homes and many are owned by residents who travel south for the winter months. Lewis said that while there is a loss to the community in these residents’ disposable income for a portion of the year, they are still paying taxes and they do return to the area.

The community has a lot to offer, so when seasonal residents return, they often eat at the local restaurants, they tend to get out and about more, reacquainting themselves with their town and friends and availing themselves to all of the amenities offered here. Lewis said she sees a growing number of reasons to stay in the area longer with the increase in business ownership and services offered. Two years of mild winters may have many snowbirds delaying departure plans and looking into earlier returns.

Snowbird populations in this region of the state are similar to other rural northern communities in that many enjoy the social realms that winter in the South provides.

Outings, a casual get-together with friends, errands and social events are more difficult to stage with extreme uncertainty over weather conditions that can vary between flurries, ice-storms, blizzards, snow-showers, sleet, hail, freezing rains and an estimated 22 other descriptive phrases used regularly to explain winter weather.

Shirley Nesbit described their winters in Florida as active, with loads to do and many people their own young age who are in a similar situation. Meeting new friends, trying new things and not having to struggle with a cold winter create an atmosphere around senior trailer and housing communities that is light-hearted and very relaxed, she said.

There are a few downsides to being a snowbird. Many are very individual, but one disadvantage to southerly travel that is mentioned repeatedly is "family." Snowbird seniors are often parents and grandparents that may be leaving behind loved ones while they travel. The certainty of returning can make things easier, but winter holidays, activities and special family get-togethers all have to be omitted from the schedule for snowbirds.

Would you say that it will never happen to you, that you will never join in the snowbird flight pattern?

As the saying goes, never say "never," and Shirley Nesbit will attest to that. She was one of the many who, years ago, said that it would not be her on the road south at wintertime, but now she couldn’t be happier with the situation.

Are you wondering if you or someone you love is getting close to becoming a snowbird? Some of the first signs of a snowbird hopeful are someone who begins to despise snow relocation devices; shovels, scrapers, blowers and plows become the enemy. Is heating fuels or electricity pricing becoming a nemesis in their mind? Does blood pressure take a leap when someone places a shovel and ice-melting salt before their eyes in August? Does a drop in temperature down into the low 70s have them reaching for a jacket? Are they ready to welcome global warming if it brings significant changes immediately to the winter climate? Do you find them frequently stopping to tour motor homes, compare features and consider payment options?

These are all signs of snowbird staging and the warm winter weather is beckoning snowbirds to begin a southerly migration.