How birds beat the cold

Birds have ingenious ways to beat the cold. Last week when temperatures dropped, I went out to watch how the birds in Dubai were coping.

We have between 10,000 and 20,000 gulls in Dubai. Over 5,000 were resting inside the Awir Sewage Treatment Plant which is protected by tall vegetation. A few thousands took shelter in the Al Warsan Lake area where Nakheel is creating huge sand dunes with steep slopes. The gulls were using the side of the dune that was not facing the winds.

Smaller birds like the sparrows, mynas, bulbuls and doves took refuge in trees under the canopy of leaves.

However, the thousands of Greater Flamingos in the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary did not leave the water body. They formed tight flocks between the mangrove trees and embankments, stood on one or both legs and tucked their bills inside their feathers on the back of their body.

Since the water temperature fluctuates less than the ambient one, the water-loving birds like to stand in water in protected bays and backwaters.

Migratory ducks, herons, gulls, terns, spoonbills and others huddled on the shores, also with their bills tucked into their feathers.

Other than bare legs, the vulnerable places are the eyes, nostrils and bare bills. So, by tucking these into their feathers they avoid losing heat from the body, thus keeping it warm.