Humans are often pretty bad at judging how an animal feels based on its behavior! Mainly it's because humans have a lot of social behaviors that may mean something different in the rest of the animal world. Today we are going to take you through some wildlife behaviors that will help you better understand Raptors! You may already know some of these, but we bet you’ll learn at least one new behavior today!
Raptors:
Feaking - When sitting on branches or perches you may notice a bird rubbing its beak on exposed bark or other hard surfaces. Like washing our hands after a meal, Feaking is a sign of cleanliness and maintenance. If a bird is feaking, it is probably comfortable!
Gular Fluttering - Birds like owls can extend and retract a small pouch just under their chins which helps them cool off and can be a sign of stress or nervousness. When it’s hot outside and they look otherwise relaxed, it’s probably safe to assume they’re just a little warm and are fanning themselves to get cool!
Rousing - When birds ruffle their feathers it not only sounds fun, it’s also a sign of them getting comfortable! Like settling into a comfy couch or bed, if you see a bird rouse they are super comfy!
Preening - Birds preen to keep their feathers clean and orderly, but will usually only preen when they are relaxed. Like brushing your hair can make you feel clean and presentable, birds too feel more comfortable when their feathers are straight. Some birds also secrete an oil that coats the feathers as they preen to help keep them waterproof. So that’s cool.
No matter how much we learn about wildlife behavior, there is always more to learn. The next time you visit Oatland Island Wildlife Center, watch our animals and see if you can’t spot any of the behaviors above! If you spot a behavior that you don’t understand, Oatlald Island’s staff are always there to help you learn more!
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