Birds try to survive during a hurricane by either fleeing or taking shelter. But, the aftermath of the devastating storm results in the destruction of many nests, birds lose their habitat and some birds even lose their life.
So, let’s get to know what happens to the birds when a hurricane strikes and how they save themselves.
What Happens to Birds When a Hurricane Strikes?
Every year, many lives and properties are lost due to hurricanes, which bring down trees and power cables and also lead to life risks. Particularly for birds, who have to battle the strong wind current as well as the rising flood water.
Migratory birds get caught in the battering wind, which damages their feathers and also leads to exhaustion. They get swept off their course while battling through these adverse conditions.
However, not every hurricane-prone area is a threat to the birds or generates survival challenges. Birds may be able to sense a storm on the horizon and so, before the hurricane strikes they fly away or take appropriate shelter.
Where do Birds Go During a Hurricane?
Birds tend to fly more inland, when the storm starts to build up or when the wind speeds up. The birds that nest near the shore are found to move more into the marshland at a higher spot or towards taller reeds.
While the birds that live in your backyard simply hunker down or tuck themselves in deep thickets or bushes. Some are seen to take shelter in the tree cavities.
An urban setting can be an advantage for the birds as they can take shelter in the buildings and protect themselves from rain and wind. However, birds avoid flying off or abandoning the nest during the breeding season, if they have young ones and they stay put until the storm passes.
Which Birds Are Most at Risk During Hurricanes?
Birds that live in the marshland or near the shore, face a serious threat of habitat loss, due to storm surges and rising water levels. The hurricane often leads to flooding and the birds that mostly suffer are rails, waders, plovers, and seaside sparrows.
If the hurricane season collides with the breeding season, it will lead to the washing away of nests, eggs, and young shorebirds and the species that mostly suffer are plovers and black skimmers.
If the hurricane hits during the period of migration, then small migratory birds are often blown away from their course due to the strong winds. Medium-sized birds are seen to get exhausted when the strong winds hit as they lose their physical strength to fly forward.
How do Birds Survive During the Storm?
Birds and every other creature need to cope with the natural calamities that nature throws at them, be it wind, rain, or extreme storms. Light rains are bearable, but birds need to take proper shelter during heavy downpours. They also need to dry their feathers and wait until the weather permits them a normal flight. Birds usually look for a sheltered spot under a backyard shed, or deep vegetation under dense foliage or window ledge.
Some birds also start to intake more food or store them as preparation to fight the hurricane. Fat-rich food helps to build fat reserves in their body which helps the bird to fly out of the storm without losing energy.
Birds that have well-modified claws, grasp the tree branches tightly during the storm, such as hawks and eagles. To survive some birds build nests in trees having flexible and strong branches that won’t sway much during the storm, also they choose an area with low-intensity winds. Some seabirds use powerful wing beats which help them to remain aloft even during the storm, such as white-tailed tropicbirds.
The seabirds also seek out the eye of the storm during the hurricane, which is their safest course. The air in the center of the hurricane is calm and the birds reach it by flying downwind. They try not to fight the wind but stay within the calm center to make it through the hurricane.
However, there is a con in the process, the seabirds get pulled far inland after the hurricane reaches the land and they might find themselves in unfamiliar landscapes when the storm is over. Thus, the birds often find it difficult to navigate back to their natural habitat.
Can Birds Predict When the Storm is Approaching?
Studies show that birds can sense the change in air pressure and predict that a storm is building up. Even migratory birds are seen to change their usual route, several days before the hurricane arrives. Thus, it can be concluded that birds have the capability to sense storms from miles away.
Based on the theory of infrasound waves, which can be carried through large distances, these are easily detected by birds. Thus, they can hear the sound of a storm building up even from a thousand miles away.
Do Birds Die During Hurricanes?
Yes, when there is a sudden breakout of a hurricane, and it does not give birds enough time to fly away or seek shelter, then they can either die due to exhaustion or be tossed around by the strong winds. They might even succumb to injuries, caused when they are suddenly or unexpectedly thrown to the ground by the hurricane.
The birds might also die indirectly when their habitats get uprooted, their nests are destroyed, there is a change in the availability of food sources or their foraging spots get flooded due to hurricanes. Young birds die when the nest is blown away by the wind and along suffer the parents who are unwilling to leave their hatchlings.
Can Lightning Hit a Bird?
Yes, birds do get hit by lightning while flying and die. Waterfowl can also get electrocuted if lightning strikes the water. However, most birds do not prefer to go out and seek shelter wherever the weather is rough or unbearable.
