subject: Birds Natural Climatologists And Know How Stay Safe During Hurricanes [print this page] Birds have built in climatology equipment built into them. They detect a drop in barometric pressure and can prepare for a major storm such as a hurricane. Most birds will try and flee from areas they reside in. In fact, seagulls for example will go at least 25 miles inland when there is an up and coming hurricane. When birds prepare an approaching storm and they don't have a nest or babies to protect, they will fly out of the storm"s path. Birds that are strong-flying birds usually can fly in front of the storm, picking up a tail wind to keep the in front of the storm system. Birds that aren"t strong flyers attempt to find a shelter out of the storms wrath.
Birds' feet work differently than human hands special muscles make their toes automatically tighten around a branch they are perched on. This physiology holds them in place when high winds exist. Birds must make an effort force their toes to unclench in order to take off. Woodpeckers take refuge in tree holes, which works unless the tree is destroyed by the storm. Other birds fly in advance of storms or try to ride them out, clinging to sturdy, sheltered branches. Birds living at the shorelines leave the beaches and move inland.
Some birds are picked up by the storm system and carried long distances. They become trapped in the calm eye by the towering, fierce storms. The eye of the storm, in effect, becomes a bird cage until the hurricane begins to dye off and birds can escape. It is the eye of the storm that moves and disorients birds, not the strong winds. Food sources for the birds living in hurricane areas are destroyed and diminish which have an after effect on the bird population. People or bird loving people can help by feeding them.
Although birds that have gone through storms in the past as well as, the latest perfect storm Hurricane Sandy are survivors, that is the species have a built in survival mechanism. It"s always nice to hear the birds singing and chirping after the wrath of these fierce storms.
