Weekend Torrential Rain, Hail Leaves Hundreds of Birds Dead, Injured in Oklahoma

Hundreds of dead and injured birds were found in the streets of Oklahoma City on Sunday morning following a week of storms as well as torrential rain and hail on Saturday night.

Torrential Rain and Hail vs. Hundreds of Birds

Numerous complaints were made to nonprofit animal rehabilitation facility WildCare Oklahoma in Noble, regarding hundreds or more purple martins that had been hit by hail during the storm, including those near the commercial district north of I-40 in Oklahoma City.

Inger Giuffrida, executive director of WildCare Oklahoma, expressed gratitude to the general public. She claimed that only a few birds from the colony could be saved.

174 wildlife patients were brought to WildCare on Sunday, with birds making up the majority of the cases. As per the wildlife officials, 121 purple martins, doves, great-tailed grackles, pigeons, and European starlings were among them, and several of the young birds were seen hanging out with their hurt parents on the ground.

Weather vs. Oklahoma Wildlife

These weather conditions have already caused havoc for Oklahoma's wildlife. An entire colony of pelicans was once destroyed by big hail in a previous occurrence.

According to Giuffrida, large hail can harm people, horses, raccoons, and any other animal left outside.

The effects of hailstorms extend beyond just hurting animals. It is essential to evaluate the harm caused by strong gusts of wind and rainfall to protect the safety and well-being of both people and wildlife.

Giuffrida emphasized the importance of inspecting yards, walks, trails, and parks after hailstorms, strong winds, and severe rains. It may be possible to find injured animals or disturbed ecosystems in areas where trees and shrubs have been cut down.

Call a Vet

Residents are encouraged to contact a veterinarian or animal rehabilitation facility if they come across an injured animal so that they can take the necessary precautions to prevent additional harm.

Giuffrida noted that adult birds seen on the ground are likely in need of assistance. Calling WildCare Oklahoma is preferable since they actually answer the phone and receive an average of 50 to 100 calls per day from a variety of animals, The Oklahoman reports.

Handle birds and young mammals using a towel or lightweight garment, advises the Wildlife Rescue League. A bird can be calmed by covering it with a towel. Although both birds and mammals have the potential to transfer diseases or parasites to people, safe handling practices usually avoid this.

Effects of Storms on Birds

Each storm is unique and has the potential to affect local birds in different ways. Climate, geography, resources available, and the kinds of birds in the storm's path all affect how dangerous a storm is. However, each storm has the potential to produce harm and even harm to birds. Strong winds and flooding can destroy active nests, as well as ground-level nests and nesting burrows.

Additionally, it can kill prey, harm food crops, or otherwise disturb food sources. By removing trees, altering shorelines, or flooding valleys, storms can disrupt habitat. By necessitating either late or early travel or alternative routes, it may affect bird migration. Additionally, it can directly harm birds by causing floods, collisions with objects, burials, etc., as well as wildfires, flash floods, landslides, or other unfortunate events, according to data from Perky Pet.