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Summary of Transcript:
The video discusses the importance of feathers for birds and how they spend hours taking care of them for activities such as flying, staying warm and waterproof. Flight feathers have a microstructure that keeps the bird waterproof and allows them to fly. Preening is when birds pull at their own feathers with their bills, zipping up the barbs to stay waterproof. Birds also produce oil from their Preen gland, which they spread across all their feathers to keep them in good condition, similar to how humans use conditioner on their hair.
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Summary of Description:
Birds spend a lot of effort maintaining their feathers in good condition for flying, staying waterproof, and keeping themselves warm. Preening is a grooming practice that helps birds to take care of their feathers. They use their preen gland as a conditioner. In a Virtual Visit episode, Education Specialist Katie elaborated on the same topic in ASLC aviary. The episode is sponsored by the Royal Caribbean Group.
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When it comes to birds, their feathers are one of their most defining characteristics. It’s the feather that makes a bird capable of flight, keeps them warm, and adds beauty to the sky. But have you ever stopped to think about how these essential aspects of a bird’s being get maintained?
In this edition of the “Virtual Visit” series, Education Specialist Katie takes us on an in-depth exploration into the amazing biology behind preening – a behavior in which birds use their beaks to clean and maintain their feathers. She explains that this process is critical for keeping feathers “zipped up” and waterproofed in order to ensure no damage occurs during flight or swimming.
Additionally, birds use a special oil secreted from their preen gland which spreads through their feathery coat acting as an effective conditioner. Without proper preening, a bird’s feather can start to deteriorate quickly impacting its ability to fly high for long distances and withstand cold temperatures. It truly is remarkable how integral this small action is to any bird’s survival!
As we watch in awe at the footage of a bird diligently preening its feathers, it’s impossible not to appreciate the complexities behind this natural behavior. With every fluff and every zip-up motion with its beak, we gain even more admiration for our feathered friends and all they do just to stay afloat!
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Source Description
Feathers take a lot of work from birds! Preening helps the birds keep their feathers “zipped up” and in good condition for flying, staying waterproof, and staying warm. Birds also use their preen gland to as a “conditioner.”
Education Specialist Katie is in the ASLC aviary and is here to tell us more!
This “Virtual Visit” episode is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you Royal Caribbean Group for making this free program possible!
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