Admittedly, Northern Virginia isn't the frozen arctic but it does get cold occasionally. During February ponds like this one were frozen solid for over a week. At times like that I worry about a pair of resident Great Blue Herons - what do they eat when they and dinner are on opposite sides of a sheet of ice. Obviously my worry is unfounded because they appear to be well.
You can see a thin layer of ice near shore; beyond the heron it was still an inch or two thick. The heron found a small clear area to fish.