Date: 7/20/26 11:51 am From: Frank Wilson via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Absence of birds in the smoke
This struck me too - I have three birdbaths which I normally must flush at
least twice a day, but on the two smoke-heavy days, I saw very little
activity. Forty-five years ago I had done a study unit on avian respiratory
physiology which is radically different from mammalian lung function due to
birds higher oxygen demand, enabling flight. I guess that they would at
least slow down but have no insight concerning mortality. Something to
ponder – the smoke certainly challenged my aging hyperreactive lungs. Any
avian physiologists out there?
Frank Wilson
New Haven (Morris Creek)
On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 9:04 AM Angela Dimmitt via CTBirds <
<ctbirds...> wrote:
> Interesting - sorry for your experience Rob - here in the northwest in I
> found rather the opposite - wood thrushes for instance resuming singing
> dawn and dusk after being quieter earlier this month, possibly because the
> smoke had lifted - last night three singing in different directions around
> my house, robins and a pewee too. I'm in a narrow valley and the smoke was
> visibly swirling below the tree tops the last few days. Dawn chorus also
> fairly intrusive - cat birds, house wrens, pewee as well.
> But things usually quieten down mid July as Chris says below.
> Angela DimmittNew Milford
> On Monday, July 20, 2026 at 07:52:38 AM EDT, C. S. Wood via CTBirds <
> <ctbirds...> wrote:
>
> I suppose it’s possible Rob, but of course many birds stop or reduce
> singing once nests are established.
>
> Chris Wood
> Woodbury, CT
> 203 558-0654
> [1]C.S. Wood Photo Sampler
>
> On Jul 20, 2026, at 7:22 AM, robert braunfield via CTBirds
> <ctbirds...> wrote:
>
> There was definitely a notable absence of birds, at least in my yard,
> during the smokiest, haziest days last week. No birdsong really ( the
> goldfinches and bunting were markedly missing , being so prominent up
> to then ) Hardly any activity save for Bluebirds needing to tend to
> their nests and vultures circling overhead. Been out of town since
> Fri.and returning tomorrow, can’t wait to see if everything is back to
> normal…
> Robert Braunfield
> Hadlyme
> Sent from my iPhone
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