Birds do not pant, but have unique ways of cooling off. Gular fluttering is when a bird flutters its wings to let circulating cool air reach its skin. Birds will also exhale through their lungs and air sacs to release some of the heat in their bodies. When birds feel extremely hot or overexerted, they …
Like humans, male birds have different reproductive organs than female birds and are not able to lay eggs. Male birds carry sperm and can fertilize the egg of a female bird, but can not lay eggs themselves. Male birds can not lay eggs but must still pull their own weight when providing for and protecting …
The vast majority of birds do not have the ability to smell food. It is more common for birds to use sight and sound when searching for food. As curious creatures, birds will explore wherever they see an opportunity for food. Birds spend most of their life searching for food. Although they don’t have a …
Birds can eat chips, but they are detrimental to the health of the bird because they do not offer enough nutrition or the appropriate balance of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Although most types of chips are not toxic to birds, they are very unhealthy. There are many reasons you may wonder if birds can eat …
Bird nests do not need to be removed from the box after the fledglings have left unless it is the end of the season. Although birds will not reuse old nests because of mites and other debris, they will reuse some of the materials for their new nest. When keeping bird boxes, many people feel …
Bird eggs can hatch without their mother, but only if adequate incubation is provided. After being laid, some eggs can retain hatchability for up to seven days before incubation is required, but incubation must be kept consistent. Most eggs abandoned by mother birds are incubated by the father bird. Finding bird eggs left unattended can …
Alcohol is effective in treating smaller infestations of bird mites. It can be mixed with vinegar for a 50/50 solution. This solution is safe, effective, and inexpensive, but is far more effective when combined with regular cleaning. All pets require a certain level of care. However, bird ownership can present unique problems not seen with …
Mushrooms are popular in many animals’ diets, including some birds. However, not all birds can (or should) eat mushrooms. It is important to know which mushrooms are safe for bird consumption and which birds should steer clear of the fungi world. Birds have diverse diets that range from the plant-heavy diets of many waterfowl to …
Bees will not go out of their way sting people or animals unless they sense a direct threat. A bee will sting a bird if it feels threatened. Considering birds are a common predator of bees, this happens often. Bees are the perfect example of the phrase “strength in numbers.” They may be tiny, but …
Bird eggs require diligent care as the embryos inside are sensitive to drastic temperatures, especially in the early stages of development. While bird eggs can survive up to a week without warmth pre-incubation, they must receive specific heat and humidity levels during incubation. The miracle of life is survival, especially when surrounded by challenges and …
