Listen to the Birds

“Is he gone? Am I safe? Should I run and hide? Okay, it’s getting quieter. Yes, yes, the robins are calming down, now the cardinals. Okay, the coast is clear—oh, look at that beautiful acorn!”

Eastern gray squirrels seem to have a short attention span, but they pay close attention to one thing: birds. When a hawk shrieks, squirrels freeze, search the sky, or run. But they’re attuned to other bird sounds, too, like robins and cardinals. Researchers have recently learned that squirrels listen to the cadence of bird calls when danger passes. When the normal chatter of birds reassures the squirrels, they relax—as much as squirrels ever really relax.

Next, researchers want to study whether squirrels listen for other cues that they’re safe, such as the regular noises of animals eating and moving about. The study shows how intertwined and relational our world is. No creature or species lives in total isolation.

God is a relational God, and he has built relationships into his creation. That includes squirrels monitoring their safety by listening to their neighbors, the birds.

This article was taken from Answers magazine, January–February, 2020, 21.