In the environment of nature, birds are a group of creatures that always have to cope with extreme changes in weather and enemies, but they always know how to survive.
They use feathers as a haven to build their sky nests. The amazing thing is that these nests remain intact regardless of the extreme weather they face. However, when all things are avoiding the storm, the bird chooses to fight, showing convincing wisdom and courage.
The reason the bird’s nest is facing up
The nest is facing upwards to protect the nest from rain and predators.
Many birds make their nests facing the sky.
The upward facing of the bird’s nest can effectively protect the inside of the nest from rainwater infiltration. In the wild, birds face the rigors of four seasons in varying climatic conditions, and rainwater is common. The main function of a bird’s nest is to provide a warm and safe home for the chicks, so there are many trade-offs that birds make to keep the inside of the nest dry. The upward arrangement of the nest allows rainwater to flow out of the nest smoothly without accumulating in the nest, not only that, the upward orientation also increases rapid drying, thereby ensuring the growth of the nest. healthy development of the next generations of birds.
Upward-facing nests are also effective in protecting birds from predators. In the wild, in ecological environments such as rice fields, and forests, there are many natural enemies of birds such as squirrels, foxes, and cats… These animals are constantly looking for food and looking for prey, and location. The upward direction of the bird’s nest reduces their attention.
When the predators see the bird’s nest, they usually check the surface of the nest first, if the bird’s nest is facing upwards, they will be confused and uncertain, it is difficult to determine the actual location and entrance of the bird’s nest… This provides the birds with an extra layer of protection from predators.
Upward-facing nests are also effective in protecting birds from predators.
A bird’s nest is also beneficial for air conditioning. In the wild, fluctuating temperatures are inevitable, especially in summer and winter. The direction the nest is built by the bird upward can reduce direct sunlight, thereby keeping the temperature inside the nest relatively stable. In the summer, this keeps the bird from getting too hot during the high-temperature summer, and from getting too cold in the winter, it keeps the bird at the right temperature in all weather.
How do birds deal with rain?
Birds use physical features and architectural tricks.
Birds have physical features that allow them to cope with rain. They have a coat that covers the entire body, these feathers are divided into many types and have different functions. Birds’ body feathers often have water-repellent properties that allow water to quickly pass through the feathers without penetrating their skin. In addition, birds’ feathers keep their bodies warm and dry, keeping them healthy and comfortable in the rain.
The nest facing up is also beneficial for regulating the air temperature.
Birds have some special behaviors and tricks to deal with rain. Some birds use their beaks to preen their feathers to keep them dry and neat. They use the special structure of the beak to clean and smooth the hair so that water does not get trapped in the body. This behavior helps them maintain good thermoregulation and the ability to fly.
Some birds also choose suitable habitats for shelter and rain cover. For example, trees and rocks are ideal places for birds to shelter from the rain. The canopy provides shade and protection, allowing birds to hide from the rain. And some birds also know how to choose the protruding part of the rock to reside in when it rains, to avoid rainwater infiltration and maintain body temperature balance. Not only that, but some also know how to take advantage of nesting in tree holes to protect themselves from the influence of weather and enemies.
The birds will also look for other objects to make temporary rain shelters. Some birds use leaves, especially large, dense trees, as umbrella-like structures for shelter from the rain. They will stand under the leaves and use the leaves to cover the trunk to keep them dry. This intelligence and creativity allow the birds to find some sort of workaround in adverse weather conditions.
Intelligent bird behavior: Nest design ingenuity and bird sensitivity to weather
Let’s talk about the design ingenuity of the bird’s nest. During the breeding season, birds build nests of various shapes and structures to incubate eggs and protect their young. For example, magpies often build circular nests of branches and blades of grass, they cleverly hide their nest position in the canopy and are not easily detected by predators. On the other hand, pigeons like to build nests on cliffs to keep their young safe. Some birds also choose to build nests among rocks or tall trees to avoid terrestrial predators.
The structure of the bird’s nest is also quite delicate. Nests of different species use different materials, some using clay and saliva for construction, others using twigs and feathers. These nests are designed not only to provide good insulation and protection from rain, but also to provide a comfortable environment for the chicks to live in. For example, some aquatic termites will line the inside of their nests with soft feathers to keep their chicks warm and comfortable.
Nests of different species use different materials.
The weather sensitivity of these birds is also amazing. As creatures that rely heavily on flight, birds are very sensitive to changes in the weather. They can predict the next climate change through subtle awareness and appropriate action. In the face of impending extreme weather, many birds change their behavior, such as flying to safer or more suitable places or finding food sources easier. Therefore, there are many migratory birds.
Birds also change the way they sing to communicate weather information. They make specific alert calls to notify other birds to seek shelter before heavy rain or high winds are approaching. This siren often resonates with other birds, creating a protective behavior for each other.
Before the fact that the bird’s nest faces the sky, the wind and rain have challenged this animal and they have shown their intelligent side.
Birds also change the way they sing to communicate weather information.
Faced with the rainy weather, the birds were not helpless. Using their wits, they found a solution. Some birds will cover their nests with dry leaves or feathers to keep rain out; Others will choose to change nesting sites quickly in search of a sheltered place.
This intelligent behavior makes people admire the intelligence and adaptability of birds. They are not limited by external circumstances, bravely face challenges, and find practical solutions. No matter what difficulties or adversities we face, we can all be empowered to learn from birds, using our intelligence and creativity to find solutions to problems. Like birds, we can overcome adversity and succeed.