Birds are amazing creatures. They build a nest, lay an egg, and hatch the baby bird in it. Sometimes predators attack the baby birds and injure them or even kill them. During that time, parent birds protect their babies. But the question is, how do birds protect their babies from predators? In this article, we will discuss some of the ways in which parents can defend their babies against predators.
how do birds protect their babies from predators? some ways-
1. Plumage camouflage
Birds have plumage colouration. This helps them to hide from predators. For example, green-coloured birds like sparrows and robins use their plumage colouration to conceal themselves from predators. Also, bluebirds like blue jays use their blue feathers to attract other birds, so they don’t get attacked by predators.
2. Bird egg camouflage
Some birds use their eggs as protection for their young ones. The mother bird covers its eggs with mud, making them hard to see. Other birds like woodpeckers make holes in their eggs to keep out predators.
3. Nesting sites
Many birds use different types of nesting sites. These nests help them to protect their eggs and chicks from predators. Nests made by birds like swallows, martens, cuckoos etc., are very safe because these nests are difficult to find.
4. Make a loud noise
When birds see danger coming towards their nests, they make a sound so that others around them can also hear it. By doing so, the other birds can take precautions and move away from the danger zone. A good example of this type of sound is the alarm call of owls.
5. Keep an eye on their babies all the time
Parents always keep an eye on their young ones to make sure they are safe. If you look at any mother eagle’s nest, you will see the mom eagle sitting right next to her nest. This is because she never leaves her babies alone. She keeps an eye on them all the time.
6. Nest cover and concealment
Some birds are very conscious of predators. So they use natural elements such as branches, twigs, grasses etc., to create a protective area for their nests. And sometimes, they even make a hole in the ground and put their nest inside it and protect it from predators.
7. Fight with predators
When predators come to attack baby birds, the parents fight back using their beaks. Beaks are used by many animals, including birds, to fight each other. They fight with predators until they leave the nest.
8. Use warning calls
Birds use various sounds to warn their babies about predators. An owl makes a hooting sound when it sees another animal. Similarly, a hawk uses its own voice to warn other birds about its presence.
9. Keep babies hidden in their wings
Many birds use their wings as a shield to protect their babies. This is called a brood patch. It is a special wing part where the mother bird provides food for her babies. So if there is danger near, the mother bird protects her babies by covering them up with her wings.
How does a mother bird know if there is danger near its nest?
Mother birds sense danger through vibrations. Danger causes air movement near their nests. Therefore, mother birds sense danger through air movements.
What kind of noises do birds make?
Birds make a variety of noises depending on what they want to communicate. Some of the common sounds include chirping, screeching, trilling, twittering, hooting, warbling etc.
Why do predators attack the small baby birds?
Predators usually attack baby birds because they are easy prey. Baby birds have soft bodies and feathers which are not fully developed yet. Also, they cannot defend themselves well against predators.
Which bird species are endangered today?
The number of bird species is decreasing day by day due to human activities. Humans kill birds either intentionally or unintentionally. For instance, some people hunt birds for fun. Others cut down trees to build houses. Still, others harm birds by releasing chemicals into nature. So many birds destroy their nest and go another way.
Final thought
Parents are very affectionate to their babies. They protect their babies from any dangerous predators. Birds are also very affectionate and love their babies. In this article, we discussed how birds protect their babies from predators. We hope that you learned something new!
