The Georgia/Florida fires just north of us are raging. The Osceola Forest is now burning. This morning, I find a beautiful pileated woodpecker in the trees outside my office window. I usually don’t see them around here. He is about 19 inches in length and is a treat to watch because the trees here are shorter around here.
Do the birds usually flee in a certain direction? I am just a beginner bird watcher, so I am not familiar with bird behavior during extreme weather conditions and forest fires.
Thanks in advance for your input.
I am NOT thinking of starting one, we already have ONE.
I just wondered if birds flee in certain directions or if they follow the flow of smoke.
It is a behavioral question that I thought birders more experienced than I could answer.
Reports are coming in about the birds here in Florida. The smoke has disorientated them. My poor little feathered friends. 
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http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddities&id=5302268
The birds will fly in a direction firstly to save themselves,the unfortunates will burn and die and the confused ones will take shelter of whatever roof available with food supply with will be their first destination to rest on and make it a home either temporary or permanent.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:14 am
they fly away really
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February 12th, 2010 at 2:24 am
sad to say they die.unles they fly away but the babys will.why?you thinling of starting a forest fire
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February 12th, 2010 at 2:29 am
In the forest fire either the birds get burned or fly away to save them, that is the reason you found those birds on your place
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February 12th, 2010 at 2:53 am
I would think they would fly away, Their babies are toast though
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February 12th, 2010 at 3:25 am
The birds will fly in a direction firstly to save themselves,the unfortunates will burn and die and the confused ones will take shelter of whatever roof available with food supply with will be their first destination to rest on and make it a home either temporary or permanent.
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February 12th, 2010 at 3:54 am
i wouldnt doubt thye fly away to where theres no fire or they jut burn up if they dont fly
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February 12th, 2010 at 4:34 am
I would think that they would fly in any direction out of panic. As a couple of others mentioned, the young would be lost. I have no idea if birds would try to defend their young and stay with them.
The young would probably not die of direct fire but of smoke. I’m sure this would be true of many birds flying in panic and possibly being overcome by smoke or actually flying toward the fire.
I’m sure that they would fly till they couldn’t fly anymore and if lucky, be able to stop where the fire wasn’t.
Other animals wouldn’t be so quick to get away such as land or sea animals.
It’s said that this is the largest wildfire in Georgia history. I live in Macon and this morning the smoke had reached as far north as here.
I understand they’ve closed off parts of the instate and evacuated parts of south Georgia. I’m afraid we’re going to be living with the fallout of this one for a few weeks.
What you might do for your refugee-feathered friends is put out more birdseed and water for them as I’m sure you’ll be seeing more birds that don’t usually come into the city. And, that will mean that they won’t have their natural food sources available.
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