I am always watching the birds' body language to check for signs of comfort. Typically I check to see that they are not afraid of the audience at a program or the noise of a logging truck driving by. In the summer months, I also keep an eye out for heat stress.
Birds cannot sweat to cool themselves, so they need to use other techniques. After a few minutes of sun bathing with Aldo the American Kestrel, I noticed he held his beak open. Just like a dog panting, open-mouth breathing allows moisture to evaporate to cool the animal. Birds can even demonstrate "gular fluttering" by vibrating the back of their throat to increase evaporation.
Birds also need to adjust their year-round down jackets to stay cool. Aldo slicked his feathers close to his body and held his wings out to help heat escape. In the winter, we see the opposite: fluffed feathers and wings held tightly against the body hold heat in.
When I saw these indications of heat stress from Aldo, I knew that we needed to move into the shade or head back to his mew, and maybe offer a nice shower from a spray bottle.
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