How Birds in Kyiv React to Explosions: What a Zoo Expert Says.

According to ТСН: When there is silence around and suddenly a loud sound occurs, it can cause panic in birds. At the same time, slow sounds of explosions, heard from a distance, usually do not provoke such an intense perception in them. They simply freeze and listen, trying to determine where the danger is coming from.

Vitaliy Lyaskivskyi, head of the "Birds" department at the Kyiv Zoo, talked about this.

Different Reactions of Birds to Explosions

Each species of birds reacts differently to explosions:

• Small and medium-sized birds (sparrows and pigeons) - scatter in all directions.

• Owls - experience strong discomfort due to their well-developed hearing.

• Phasianid birds - freeze, then make a sudden jump upwards and fly away, as they perceive sharp sounds as dangerous.

• Predatory birds - react less actively, as they rely more on sight. They freeze, observe, and then decide what to do next.

In Kyiv, the behavior of birds remains virtually unchanged, as they adapt to the periodic sounds of explosions.

Lyaskivskyi emphasized that the shock wave is a greater danger to birds than the sound itself. Due to their small body size, birds can suffer serious injuries from the shock wave.

The expert also debunked the widespread myth that animals can foresee impending danger. In reality, their senses, particularly hearing, are better developed than in humans; they do not predict, they simply hear sounds a few minutes earlier.

Overall, birds' vision is better developed than their hearing - their eyes occupy about two-thirds of the volume of their heads. For example, pigeons and sparrows living in Kyiv do not feel danger in advance but react to it as it arises.

In conclusion, it should be noted that in Ukraine, the crane is on the brink of extinction, a wetland bird from the ibis family listed in the Red Book. Its population in the lower Dniester is rapidly declining due to the loss of natural habitats.

This information underscores the importance of studying bird behavior in the context of environmental changes and the impact of human activity on their lives. Special attention should be given to preserving natural habitats for birds to avoid further population decline.