With Ike coming thru Ohio a couple of weeks ago, it has prompted many questions about how our backyard birds handle high winds.

Research indicates that birds are sensitive to changes in air pressure. So when the pressure drops significantly, indicating a large storm is on the way, birds take notice. If birds detect an approaching storm in the fall, when they don't have a nest or babies to protect, they will, for the most part, huddle down in dense shrubs or trees where they will be sheltered. Larger birds may attempt to fly ahead of the storm, carried by the winds at the forefront of the system. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters have been known to use tree cavities to ride out the storm, which can be dangerous given the chance of the trees snapping or getting uprooted.

Luckily for perching birds, their feet work differently than human hands. When perching birds sit, a tendon on the backside of the ankle automatically flexes locking their toes around the branch. As the bird stands up its feet release. This holds them in place during high winds or when they sleep.

Migrating birds will avoid these storms as much as possible. However, birds can get caught up in the eye of the storm and end up hundreds of miles from where they started. This can be especially dangerous to birds that live near the ocean and can not find a food source after being displaced.

Birds can also be affected in high winds when their food supplies, such as fruits, berries, nuts and seeds are stripped from trees, shrubs and weeds. Hummingbirds can be devasted by this at the end of summer if nectaring plants are permanently damaged due to winds.

After using up a lot of energy trying to ride the storm out birds need to reload immediately after a storm. What can we do to help them? Be sure your feeders are full immediately after the storm. Feed them high protein foods, such as suet, black oil sunflower & safflower to re-build their strength. And always be sure they have a clean water source. This will take the stress off them and allow you to sit back & enjoy….well, after you've picked up all of the branches off your lawn!

Birds Fly Out as Fall Rolls In

Our sky’s will play host to thousands of winged visitors for the next few weeks, as birds from across the country migrate to their fall and winter destinations. This is a very exciting time for birdwatchers and individuals who feed wild birds, because many species not native to the area will be passing through and will be seen at feeders, in birdbaths, in yards and in other natural settings.

Migration is a fascinating part of bird behavior. It appears that age, sex, weather and the availability of food, water and shelter are the major factors in migratory behavior.

More than 300 bird species found in North America during the summer will make their way to Latin America and the Caribbean, some covering distances of nearly 7,000 miles.

While migration is still not completely understood, it appears that some birds orient themselves by the stars on clear nights while others seem to have a built-in magnetic compass. Some birds travel over large bodies of water, and it is not uncommon for birds to lose one fourth to one half of their body weight during over-water migration.

In order to survive their grueling trip, birds accumulate fat prior to migration. This physiological change helps the birds maintain their energy reserves.

Not only can we enjoy migrating birds as they pass through our area, but, we can also play a role in their survival by providing food, water, habitat and/or shelter to help them conserve and replenish their energy supply during their journey.