Survival skills help birds build nests very cleverly. However, have you ever wondered if birds’ nests face upwards, will they be affected if it rains?
Reasons for birds’ nests facing upwards
In the wild, birds face the harshness of the four seasons in changing climate conditions, and rainwater is common. The main function of a bird’s nest is to provide a warm and safe home for its young, so birds have to sacrifice a lot to ensure the interior of the nest is dry. The upward orientation of the nest allows rainwater to flow out of the nest conveniently without accumulating inside. Moreover, the upward orientation also increases quick drying, thereby ensuring the healthy development of future bird generations.
Bird’s nest facing upwards is also effective in protecting birds from predators.
The upward-facing nest is also effective in protecting birds from predators. In addition to natural predators, in ecological environments such as farmland and forests, there are many enemies of birds such as squirrels, foxes, and cats… These animals constantly search for food and prey, and the upward-facing position of the bird’s nest reduces their attention. When predators see the bird’s nest, they often check the surface of the nest first. If the bird’s nest faces upwards, they will be confused and uncertain, making it difficult to determine the actual position and entrance of the nest. This provides the birds with an additional layer of protection against predators.
Bird’s nests also benefit air temperature regulation. In the wild, temperature fluctuations are inevitable, especially in summer and winter. The upward-facing orientation constructed by birds can reduce direct sunlight, thereby keeping the interior temperature of the nest relatively stable. In summer, this keeps the birds from getting too hot in high temperatures and not too cold in winter, maintaining a suitable temperature for birds in all weather conditions.
Which bird species has the smallest and largest nests?
Bird’s nests also benefit air temperature regulation.
The species of bird in the world that builds the smallest nest and the one that builds the largest nest is still debatable. According to current data, the swiftlet in our country and some small flycatchers in the Americas build the smallest nests.
The nests of flycatchers are usually no bigger than half the size of a lychee with a diameter of about 3cm, while the nest of the swiftlet can only hold a single egg which measures 28mm in length and 16mm in width. Because the nest is so small, when hatching, the bird has to perch directly on the branch and cover the feathers on the egg.
Many bird species build relatively large nests, but perhaps no species can match the size of the bald eagle living in the Americas. People have found a nest of this species with a diameter of 2.5 meters, a height of 3.5 meters, and weighing up to 2 tons, and another nest with a width of 3 meters and a height of 6 meters. However, the top prize for having the largest nests is probably the malleefowl species living in southern Australia and nearby islands. The nest of this species looks like a large mound, sometimes reaching a height of 6 meters and a width of 15 meters. In fact, it can be said that this is more of an incubation oven than a normal bird’s nest.
Why can swiftlets fly continuously for months without resting?
Scientists have long known that swifts can fly continuously for extended periods of time, but it wasn’t until 2016 that they were able to provide concrete evidence and specific numbers.
