their feathers down flat to get rid of insulating air.
Or, they erect their plumage to take advantage of
the cooling power of a passing breeze. Soaring
birds hop thermals that carry them to cooler alti-
tudes. Songbirds seek out shady spots and become
as inactive as possible during the heat of the day,
becoming more active as the sun goes down. And
as we mentioned above, some wild birds, like dogs
will open their bills and pant to help dissipate heat
on a hot day. As they get hotter, their panting may
increase in speed or they may open their bills even
further for greater cooling. Shorebirds stand in water
for long periods during hot summer days. Their
unfeathered, naked legs are uninsulated – perfect for
shedding heat and conducting coolness.
Hummingbirds also show a lot of leg when it’s hot.
Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate of
any animal; thus, they generate a lot of heat. Add
the heat of a summer day to the heat generated by
these feathered dynamos, and you have a recipe
for disaster. In order to shed heat and to main-
tain constant body temperate (about 104 degrees
Fahrenheit), hummingbirds slow down; they limit
their quest for nectar sources, perch quietly and fully
expose their feet and toes to the air. Heat radiates
Bird drinking from a dripper
from their exposed skin, and passing breezes cool
the birds down.
Some birds also stay cool and minimize heat stress
by changing their posture or their orientation to the
sun. Of course, the ultimate way for birds to beat
the heat is for them to drink lots of water and to
bathe to cool their bodies. That’s why it’s important
to provide a birdbath and/or drippers or misters for
our feathered friends on hot summer days. Think
about your backyard landscape too – by plant-
ing native trees and shrubs at several levels you
can provide lots of shade and shelter from the hot
summer sun. So go on, throw a summer soiree, and
invite birds over for a cold drink and a swim.
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