Snowbird (people)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about migratory people called Snowbirds, for alternate meanings see snowbird.
The term Snowbird is used to describe Canadians and people from the Pacific Northwest, Northeast or Midwestern United States who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California, Arizona, Florida, or elsewhere along the Sunbelt region of the southern United States, areas of the Caribbean, and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand. It is also used for those who migrate to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada for the winter. Victoria is known for having very mild winters by Canadian standards, and has an annual "blossom count" in mid-February to prove its warm winter status. Residents of northern Europe also flock to the warmer areas in the United States, establishing second communities of seasonal residents.
Snowbirds are typically retirees, and business owners who can afford to be away from home for long periods of time or have a second home in a warmer location. Some snowbirds carry their homes with them, as campers (mounted on bus or truck frames) or as boats following the east coast Intracoastal waterway. It used to be that snowbirds were the wealthy who maintained several seasonal residences and shifted residence with the seasons to avail themselves of the best time to be at each location.
Many of these "Snowbirds" also use their vacation time to declare permanent residency in low, or no tax states (where the taxes are sustained by high tourism taxes), and claim lower non-resident income taxes in their home states. Some are reputed to use this dual-residency to absentee vote in both locales.
[edit] Origin of term
Use of "Snowbird" in this sense may be reflected in "Snowbird", a song made popular by Canadian Anne Murray:
- "Spread your tiny wings and fly away
- And take the snow back with you
- Where it came from on that day
- ...
- So, little snowbird, take me with you when you go
- To that land of gentle breezes where the peaceful waters flow..."
