How to help backyard birds survive a heat wave

Birds obviously know how to survive in the wild without our input. But blazing-hot weather can have detrimental effects on them. “Birds have naturally higher body temperatures than we do, which means that extreme heat can quickly take a toll on them,” says Sarah Belles, Gulf Coast avian ecologist at American Bird Conservancy. “Because of this, birds are especially susceptible to heat stroke and dehydration.”

Just like people, birds can experience a range of heat injuries. “During heat waves, birds can become dehydrated, overheat, and spend more time trying to stay cool and less time feeding, maintaining themselves, or caring for their young,” says Chad Witko, specialist in avian biology at the National Audubon Society. “Prolonged periods of extreme heat can reduce breeding success and, in severe cases, lead to mortality.”

Other factors also make hot weather more stressful. “Heat can also affect birds indirectly by drying up water sources and reducing the availability of insects, seeds, berries, and other foods that birds rely on,” says Witko. “Young birds—including unhatched eggs, nestlings, and recently fledged chicks— are often the most vulnerable. Eggs can overheat in exposed nests, and chicks have a limited ability to regulate their own body temperatures.”

If it’s extremely hot, you can make a difference for your backyard birds. When you provide plentiful resources, a bird’s chances of survival increase. “This also allows them to conserve energy for more important things, like raising young and making long migrations to and from nesting grounds,” says Belles.

Ahead, here’s what to know about how birds deal with heat and how you can help:

How Do Birds Survive The Heat?

Birds cool themselves off in many of the same ways we do, such as by seeking shade or cooling off with water. They have biological methods of cooling, too. “Birds don’t sweat. This means they have to rely on other tactics to regulate their body temperature. One of the most obvious signs that a bird is actively trying to lower their body temperature is when their beak is open and they are panting,” says Belles. “As the air passes over the respiratory system, water evaporates, which helps cool the body down.”

Birds can also control the amount of blood flowing to different parts of their bodies. “By sending more blood to the legs and beak where more skin is exposed, body heat can be released into the air instead of trapped under their feathers,” says Belles.

How To Help Birds Survive A Heat Wave

Increasing the amount of options for food, water, and shelter will allow more birds the opportunity to take refuge in your yard, says Belles. Here’s what you can do to help birds during extreme heat:

Offer water. The most important thing you can do is provide clean, fresh water. “Bird baths offer birds a place to drink and cool down, especially when natural water sources become scarce during hot, dry periods,” says Witko. “During heat waves, refreshing the water once or twice a day helps keep it cool and clean.” You also can offer additional bird baths or shallow water sources to reduce crowding and give more birds access to water, especially in neighborhoods where natural sources may be limited.

Add fountains, drips and misters, too. Providing a source of running water like a drip or mister can be a huge attraction to birds in your yard. “Even just the sound of moving water can bring birds in,” says Belles. Some birds, such as hummingbirds, also don’t typically use traditional birdbaths.

Provide natural shade. Plant a variety of shrubs and trees that offer shelter. “Native trees, shrubs, and dense vegetation create cooler microhabitats where birds can rest during the hottest hours of the day,” says Witko. Well-established native plants often tolerate heat stress better than newly planted gardens or many non-native species, so planting natives can help ensure birds have food available during future heat waves.

Clean feeders regularly in hot weather. You want to make sure everything is clean and mold-free. Hummingbird nectar feeders are especially prone to spoiling in the heat, so check them every day or so. Placing nectar feeders in shade or dappled light also slows the impact of heat and direct sun on nectar, says Witko. 

Clean baths every few days. Dirt and droppings can lead to spread of sickness in your local bird community. Rinse the bottom with a high-pressure hose, then mix 1-part white vinegar with 9-parts water. Use a scrub brush to thoroughly clean the bath with the vinegar mixture. Rinse the bath, and allow it to dry in the sun before refilling with fresh water, says Belles.

Provide foods with more moisture. Try offering watery fruits, such as halved oranges, watermelons, or berries, which many different kinds of birds enjoy. These water-rich foods help replace what the birds are losing, says Belles.

Read the original article on Southern Living