do birds fear?
By Elizabeth
@Poppylicious (11134)
United Kingdom
May 30, 2018 5:39pm CST
I was rudely awoken at about four this morning; occasional flashes of bright light coupled with low rumbles of thunder are to blame. It wasn't an impressive storm, but the cats were a trifle spooked by it and so I calmed them.
As I listened to the rumbles and bathed in the flashing lights, I could hear the birds singing their morning chorus.
As they happily sang, tweet tweet tweet, la la la, tweet tweet tweet, I couldn't help but wonder if they feared the storm. After thousands and thousands of years are they simply attuned to thunder and lightning, or was their dawn chorus a song of enchantment to appease the Big Sky Bird, creator of all things, but especially of scary things like thunder? Do some birds hide in trees and hedgerows, or under cover of leaves, quivering with fright when storms arrive?
Do they even notice??
*sigh*
The world is full of questions.
7 people like this
7 responses
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
31 May 18
@Poppylicious Exactly, when the kids of the neighbors scream they all fly away.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
I suppose nature is something they're accustomed to. It's the noises from pesky human inventions that they can't yet adapt to.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (127172)
• United States
30 May 18
Yes birds fear things but not necessarily what you'd think. My parrot isn't afraid of thunder and lightning. She is scared of the vacuum though! She also is petrified of small children as she was abused by them in her first home. When I had a macaw he would scream his head off anytime he saw a broom.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
So, no different to my cats then? They don't like brooms or vacuum cleaners and will run a mile when they see either come out of the cupboard!
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
31 May 18
I am sure that some species can cope with storms better than others. That is a good question though, what does each squawk and tweet mean? Could their chorus of song actually be calls of help?
I think they must notice though, and they are probably one of the first creatures to know when a storm is coming.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Jun 18
@Poppylicious Yes, plus if they are looking for food, knowing when a storm is about to roll in would be beneficial.
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@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
I expect so. They need to know how to build nests which keep themselves and their babies safe from things like torrential rain and high winds, so they must be aware at some level.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14797)
• Ireland
31 May 18
@poppylicious The more beautiful birds are so preoccupied with their own beauteous splendour that they fail to notice their surroundings. A bit like humans. Perhaps. And wasn’t it so good to be washed in rain again?
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
Rain makes everything better, always. :)
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@Jessabuma (31696)
• Baguio, Philippines
31 May 18
Yes I think birds have fear also and they're also afraid to storms.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
Awww, poor birds. I think they probably enjoy storms, for the most part.
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@Jessabuma (31696)
• Baguio, Philippines
31 May 18
@Poppylicious hmmmm.. maybe hehehe!!!
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20641)
• Philippines
30 May 18
I think they have fear too. During big storm I once observed them. I could feel their sadness and fear, maybe the strong wind just destroyed their beloved nest.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
31 May 18
Oh, I hope they didn't have babies!
1 person likes this
