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Birds huddle under leaves when it rains

Q: Where are all the birds when it rains? Barry S., Los Angeles, California

A: They huddle under the leaves of shrubs, vines, and trees. Grassland birds nest within thick grasses.

[Corel] A ruffled grouse and her chick stay dry under tree leaves.

Many places, though, provide no shelter. Consequently, birds have evolved rain-shedding feathers.

They stay relatively warm and dry under their feathers, says John Bianchi of the Audubon Society. "Still birds get wet. ...most birds don't seem to mind. If they can't find a place to hide, they'll simply stand in the rain. After the rain--and during--they fluff up their feathers to warm up and help themselves dry off."

After a dry spell, even with shrubs and trees galore, they sit sometimes out in the rain and take showers.

(Answered by April Holladay, science correspondent, December 19, 2001)

Further Surfing:

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