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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Do birds warm their feet on telephone wires?

I think the main reason birds sit on high wires is because it’s a nice resting area. Power lines like trees, provide safe, high perches that allow smaller birds to survey the surrounding area for predators.

Why do the birds face the same direction?


How can birds sit on electrical wires and not get electrocuted?

When you see lots of birds on the wires, is bad weather coming?
I'm not sure why I had so many question about birds on the wires this week. It might be due to the bad weather mid-Michigan is experiencing right now. 

Most birds have a special middle-ear receptor called the Vitali organ, which can sense incredibly small changes in barometric pressure. So if the activity at feeders suddenly becomes much more intense a storm may be approaching. Also, birds flying low or lining up on power lines can indicate swiftly falling air pressure.

Birds watch birdwatchers watching birds.
Or you may be noticing more birds because it's still light out now after work. Some birds even seem to like watching us as much as we watch them because it seems they flock around the busier intersections. And the migration of blackbirds is underway. Populations of birds we haven't seen for months will finally arrive to begin nesting.
Thank you for all the interesting questions.