Helping Birds Survive a Hurricane
Hurricanes have winds up to 150 miles per hour or more. While humans can drive to safety after watching weather.com, birds are not quite that lucky. How can you help birds to survive the hurricane?
* Tie Down All Outdoor Items
You want to make sure that all items you have outside - including birdfeeders and birdhouses - are strongly tied down. You don't want them turned into flying shrapnel for birds or anybody else! This is especially true for birdhouses that birds might try to take shelter in.
* Put Up Additional Sturdy Birdhouses
Birds normally hide in trees, near the center of the branches. But strong winds can blow through leaves and make these locations unsafe. Connect the houses very firmly to the strongest trees you can find, or to the sides of houses. Of course there is still the chance that the tree could blow down or the house blow over - but if the wind is that strong, there wasn't much other option for the bird anyway.
* Put Out a Ton of Food
Both before the storm and afterwards, the birds will need every ounce of energy they can get. Put out food of all types, and water, too. Normal food and water sources might be completely destroyed. The birds that weather the storm will need to be full of food before it starts, and have easy access to food when it's over.
* Make Safe Homes When It's Over
Many natural homes are destroyed during hurricanes - both bird and human ones. Put up new birdhouses after the hurricane passes, and make piles of brush for those birds that do not use wooden houses. That gives the birds a safe spot to sleep while they figure out their new situation.
* Donate Money to a Bird Rescue Location
Many injured birds will be brought to bird rescue sites after a hurricane. Donate money, time or supplies to the rescue sites so that they can cope with the influx of new patients.
Bird Rescue Organizations
Birding Basics
Birding Tips and Photos
Birding Help Hints Tips and Information