This is Scientific American 60-Second Science. I'm Ashley Papp.

It's summertime in New York City. Birds are chirping, insects are scurrying, and everything feels alive.

While recent heatwaves have pushed a lot of us indoors to the respite of air conditioning,

the critters of this city were left to fend for themselves.

Many would be surprised that they're going to be doing the same exact things that most humans are doing.

You know, they're not going to be pushing it. They're going to be taking their time and seeking those, you know, shadier spots of the park.

That's Sunny Careo, an environmental scientist.

I work with New York City Parks Department as part of our wildlife unit, a small bit mighty team,

that focuses on how New Yorkers can co-exist with wildlife in an urban environment.

From the birds and squirrels to raccoons and even the turtles, here's how urban wildlife is responding as the mercury rises.

Let's start with the birds.

Obviously, there are a lot of different species of birds that can be found all across the city from your pigeons

to your larger birds of prey.

And what's interesting about birds is they're not, they don't sweat through their skin like humans and other mammals do.

Instead, birds lose heat through exposed skin, which if you think about the last time you saw a bird in prospect park,

there really isn't much exposed aside from their feet, legs, and beak.

Sometimes, when temps really spike, birds can pant, kind of like a dog to get rid of their excess heat.

Ultimately, these tactics help, but usually aren't enough during a heat wave.

So they'll find everything from a little puddle from a recent rainstorm,

or maybe the hydrants that are open down the street to fountains,

and even the spray showers in our playgrounds across the city.

You can find birds that will be seeking refuge in the water to kind of help cool off.

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