Watching several nestsites today one can see how parents who are incubating are panting. And the eyases of James River Bridge are laying flat on their belly's with feet and wings stretched out.
Well don't worry they are not sick. The temp is up.
Today in Virginia it was 72 F ( 26 C). That's real warm.
Birds have no sweat glands so evaporation, one way to lose heat, can occur only via respiratory system. So they start panting. Today that could be watched in Rochester, as well as in James River Bridge.
The eyases lay flat with legs stretched. In that way they increase the amount of skin that has no feathers on it. And can cool off.
In the winter peregrines for instance withdraw one foot into their plumage to reduce heat loss and for the same reason they tuck head & neck under their wing to reduce heat loss.
So in live streaming webcams it looks very disturbing, those little babies panting and laying there like their very sick. But it is very natural behaviour.
Well don't worry they are not sick. The temp is up.
Today in Virginia it was 72 F ( 26 C). That's real warm.
Birds have no sweat glands so evaporation, one way to lose heat, can occur only via respiratory system. So they start panting. Today that could be watched in Rochester, as well as in James River Bridge.
The eyases lay flat with legs stretched. In that way they increase the amount of skin that has no feathers on it. And can cool off.In the winter peregrines for instance withdraw one foot into their plumage to reduce heat loss and for the same reason they tuck head & neck under their wing to reduce heat loss.
So in live streaming webcams it looks very disturbing, those little babies panting and laying there like their very sick. But it is very natural behaviour.
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