Where do garden birds go in a storm?
How do the birds survive bad weather? And what can we do to support them.
When the rain, winds, or even snow come in, it raises a few questions: Where do the NZ birds we kohabit our gardens with go during storms? How do the birds survive bad weather? And what can we do to support our garden birds during this time? Find out below…
Do birds know a storm is coming?
Birds are experts at following weather patterns and can tell when a storm is coming. They feel changes in the barometric pressure, when the air pressure drops a storm is on the way and it's time to get ready.
What do birds do to prepare for a storm?
Our garden birds' survival skills are always on full alert, so when they sense a storm is on the way, they know it's time to prepare.
Birds have a safety plan ready for bad weather and will have an eye on a good spot to literally weather the storm. This instinct is similar to the way they plan for a good nesting site and is all part of their natural survival instinct.
Some birds will simply fly away from an impending storm. They will use their natural senses to steer them to a safer location, returning to their usual habitat once the storm is over.
Birds that stay in the stormy area will stock up on high-calorie foods as they don't know how long they will need to shelter. Find out about Kohab’s range of high-quality and high-energy foods.
Birds that shelter in small cavity spaces may also be out searching for extra warm materials to make their shelter warm and snug.
Where do birds go during a storm?
Different types of garden birds have different survival techniques to get through storms.
Cavity nesters (birds that nest in small sheltered spaces or like to use birdhouses), will return to their chosen spots to hunker down. And they will often cluster together in these small spaces using each other’s body heat to stay warm.
Some birds will shelter in thick hedges or other foliage. Here they can gain protection from the full force of a storm and preditors at the same time.
Other birds will perch high in trees staying close to the trunk and moving around it to ensure they keep in the most sheltered spot from the wind. Birds’ feet automatically lock onto perches when they land due to the contraction of the tendons in their legs, this stops them from getting blown away or falling off when they sleep.
Do birds get cold?
Perching birds have a limited number of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles in their feet and this helps protect them from the cold and frost. They also technically stand on their toes which reduces the surface area of their feet that is in contact with the cold perch. And they are also able to fluff up their feathers to trap extra air, this acts as insulation and keeps their bodies warm and helps to cover any parts of their feet that may be exposed.
How can I support birds during stormy weather?
It’s easy to support birds during stormy weather by doing a few basic things:
Help them increase their calorie intake by putting out high-energy, high-protein foods such as the Kohab Wild Bird Seed Mix PLUS, it gives the birds an extra nutritional boost to help them through more demanding times.
If you don't have a birdhouse, then it's never a bad time to put one up as they get used for shelter during stormy times. You can also make a few simple changes to your birdhouses to make them even better for winter. Find out how here in our Kohab Life Blog: Winter Birdhouses
Ensure you put out some clean water. Even in the cold birds still need a clean water source. Find out more about setting up a bird bath here in our Kohab Life blog: 5 tips for setting up a birdbath.
Help the birds that use cavity spaces during a storm to keep their shelter warm by putting out some nesting materials in an easy-to-find dry place. Find out more about suitable nesting materials in our Kohab Life blog: Best nesting materials for NZ Birds.
Once the storm is over remember the birds will be hungry, so top up your feeders to help them regain their energy levels. Take a look at the range of Kohab Bird Foods to find the right food for your NZ garden birds.
