How do Birds Survive Natural Disasters?

What do birds do to protect themselves from natural calamities, apart from migrating or so? ~ Supreetha

Like humans, birds have to contend with natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, bad weather and fire as well as manmade catastrophes like wars, oil spills and pollution. Unfortunately even with several survival strategies, mortality rate can be high.

Depending on the crises, it's safe to say most birds seek shelter. Birds can evacuate the area, settle down into hollow cavities of large trees, or go to the ground when emergencies happen. Then they only have to worry about food.

Most of a bird’s life is spent seeking food from several locations. Some birds even store or cache food for rainy days. And even though humans have made it difficult for some birds because of the destruction so much natural habitat, they have also helped a lot.

In times of crisis, people with backyard birdfeeders can make the difference between life and death. And bird rescue and research centers have also helped many birds through rehabilitation, emergency response, education, research, planning and training.

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