Help Birds Survive Heat Waves

BirdNote^®
Help Birds Survive Heat Waves
Written by Conor Gearin

This is BirdNote.

         [Music followed by cicada sounds throughout]

It's easy to feel helpless during a heat wave, like there's nowhere to hide from the sun. Birds feel much the same. Thankfully there are things we can do to protect birds and ourselves from heat. Here’s three to start.

         [Northern Cardinal singing]

First, grow plants that create shade. Studies show that shade trees can cool down neighborhoods and reduce the urban heat island effect, keeping wildlife and people cooler even in the hottest months.

Second, provide water. A bird bath or outdoor water feature can help birds avoid dehydration and stay cool with a quick bath. Just make sure to keep the water fresh, clean, and mosquito free.

         [Birds singing near a water feature as water droplets fall]

Third, pay attention to nest boxes. Excessive heat is particularly hard on young birds. In direct sunlight, temperatures in the nest can soar to lethal extremes. When you install a nest box, try placing it in the shade. Or if it’s for a bird that prefers open habitats, consider painting the box white or choosing a ventilated, double roof design to reduce the risk to the birds inside.

         [Eastern Bluebird singing with insect chorus]

Through small steps like these, we can make bigger strides toward a better future for ourselves and the birds.

         [Music reprised]

For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.

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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin

Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Dog-day Cicadas ML110292 recorded by Wil Hershberger. Eastern Bluebird ML534514 recorded by Wil Hershberger. Northern Cardinal ML100765 recorded by Wil Hershberger. White-throated Sparrow ML653725635 recorded by Rose Ann Rowlett.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote September 2026
Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# actions-15-2026-09-24        actions-15