General News
5 February, 2026
Barry's Corner: Shady trees
Wild life of many types has adaptions to survive in extreme conditions and can often survive heat or cold.
Animals cope with a significant numbers of challenges.
At this time of the summer the heat can be overwhelming and this can be dangerous for any birds or animals caught without being under shelter.
Much of our wildlife is nocturnal and only move late into the afternoon or during the night.
Once the day is starting to break and sun light is making an impression on the early morning the wild life disappears as if by magic.
Nearly all birds and mammals can thrive without regular water unless some is provided.
Enough moisture can be found on leaves and shrubs in natural bushland to sustain most of the creatures.
If it rains animals take advantage and stock up from the puddles that form in the low lying swales.
Kangaroos do not move too fast as the heat kicks in Kangaroos walk on four legs steadily and only hop when necessary to conserve energy.
As winter approaches the skin and fur responds by growing thicker and combined with extra fat helps the animal stay warm.
Where some birds move to other countries for breeding and food, many others stay around and possibily move within Australia.
The bird chorus improves dramatically at spring time when most birds fly back to Western Victoria, many of the waders around the coast rarely use shade even if it was available.
Plovers work for food in open paddocks with no trees for shade.
Birds have valuable feathers which protects the bird from heat and cold.
Reptiles are all cold blooded which means they rely on the sun for warmth and need to lay in a sunny spot for sometimes quite a while before they become more active.
Nearly all reptiles do not feed in the colder months, they put on fat stores over summer.
Lizards, and snakes make use of any burrow, rock crevasses or hollows in trees or under bark.
Most animals know when to take shelter and it is not uncommon to see them under a tree in shade.
There are enough sheds around the district one would be comfortable living for birds.
Owls seem to be the main species to take shelter in tractor sheds feathers are designed as waterproof and comfortable in the cold.