Where Do Pigeons Go When It Rains?
Birds have the natural ability to adapt to their environment. Whether it is snow or rain, they bear the instinct to make the right decision and deal with the inclement weather conditions. But what about pigeons?
Where do pigeons go when it rains? When it rains heavily, pigeons generally take shelter in dense shrubs, stay next to heavy tree trunks, or fly to the downwind side of the forests. And in urban locations, you will find pigeons under window ledges, bridges, and solar panels.
But what happens when it drizzles? Also, are pigeons capable of surviving rain? You will be able to learn all about it by continuing to read.
Read more about pigeon habits:
Do Pigeons Migrate to a Different Location When It Rains?
Unlike other birds, pigeons do not migrate. No matter whether it is snowing or raining, these birds stay put. In fact, when you take them away from their nesting area, they will find ways to come back.
So, in short, pigeons will not shift their location even when it is raining heavily. Instead, they will remain within the area and take shelter under something.
Can Pigeons Survive in the Rain?
Pigeons can survive both light and heavy rains. And like other birds, pigeons use the light shower to take a little bath. That is why you will see them ruffling their feathers in the rain.
Now, even though pigeons can tackle rain, it doesn’t mean that it is safe for them to stay wet for an extended time. Prolonged exposure to wet conditions is harmful to birds’ health.
Moreover, being exposed to rain for a long time will drop their internal temperature. That can make the pigeons less active.
We have covered an in-depth article on “Pigeon Habits“; if interested, you can check this article here.
Do Pigeons Seek Shelter When It Rains?
The feathers on the pigeon’s bodies protect their inner skin from getting cold and wet in the rain. However, pigeons, like any other birds, will take shelter when it pours heavily.
In other words, pigeons will only take shelter when it rains too much. Even though their feathers can protect them from getting wet, heavy rain will limit their ability to fly.
Not to mention that the birds will notice a temperature drop within their bodies for prolonged exposure to wet environments. And that will eventually make them take shelter from the rain.
Why Do Pigeons Like Sitting in the Rain?
A bit of rain does not worry many birds. But as you know by now, the case is different for a bad storm.
In light rains, birds sit out in the shower and continue their regular lives. The same thing applies to pigeons. For that reason, you will find pigeons not panicking or taking shelter when it is not raining heavily.
To be exact, most pigeons will take the opportunity to clean themselves and preen their feathers when it is raining lightly. But that doesn’t mean that they are okay with staying wet for a prolonged hour.
What Can We Do to Help Pigeons When It Rains?
As mentioned earlier, light rain does not bother pigeons at all. Pigeons can handle a decent amount of rain. It is within their natural instincts to adapt well to any given environmental conditions.
However, it is undoubtedly possible to make things easier for pigeons. For example, you can do these couple of things:
01. Do not sway them off your property
Yes, having pigeons on the balcony can be a little annoying, as they are known for dropping poop everywhere. But when it is raining, you need to consider that they are there to take shelter. So, do not make the fly-off.
02. Provide Shelter
If you are really into helping the bad weather hits, consider building a pigeon coop. And make sure that the coop is weatherproof and can handle rainstorms.
On the other hand, you can leave a cardboard box or something good enough to provide temporary shelter. Yes, there’s no need to commit to a pigeon coop just to help the birds get through rainy weather.
03. Offer Food and Water
When it rains heavily, it will become pretty challenging for the pigeons to find food sources. In such scenarios, you can leave some birdseed and water in a sheltered area.
04. Avoid Disturbing the Nesting Areas
Pigeons tend to take shelter in their nests when the weather hits hard. And some might even try to build a new nest in a much-sheltered area. If you happen to see a bird building a new nest, do not sway them off.
Final Words
Are you still not sure about where do pigeons go when it rains? In short, they live their regular life when it rains lightly. But when it rains heavily, these birds tend to take shelter in dense vegetation and under manmade structures.
So, that’s all that is to it to pigeons surviving rain. If you want to stay caught up with our latest posts, which will be as informative and interesting as this one, please consider connecting with our socials. You will find us on Twitter, and Pinterest.
Article References:
- Nytimes.com/2009/01/25/nyregion/thecity/25fyi.html
- Thehealthyjournal.com/faq/where-do-pigeons-go-when-raining
- Birdsandblooms.com/gardening/attracting-butterflies/attracting-birds-wildlife-extreme-weather
- Blog.mybirdbuddy.com/post/birds-bad-weather
Image Credit:
- Canva.com/photos
