As summer continues to heat up, so do our feathered friends. Birds do not have sweat glands, so it is much harder for them to dissipate unwanted heat. These are common signs of an overheated bird:

• Holding its wings away from its body
  
• Labored breathing or panting
  
• Dry skin
  
• Dazed expression
  
• Inability to keep its balance

Birds and birdcages need to be kept out of direct sunlight all year, but especially in the summer, said Maria Gleason, president of the International Canary Society. "They need to always have fresh water and ventilation in a bird room," Gleason said.

Every summer Bonnie De George and her husband take a driving trip with their birds. Traveling in the car with a bird requires vigilance, said De George, member of the Real Macaw Parrot Club. She shades the back windows of her car to accommodate for the sun's shifting position and she only visits drive through restaurants.

"We'd like to stop and go into restaurant, but you can't," De George said. "The minute you turn off the air conditioning…that heat builds up so that you can barely breathe." Birds should never be left in a parked car.

It is important to help a bird cool off if it is exhibiting signs of heatstroke. Use these techniques to help the bird to gradually cool off:

• With a misting bottle, spray its body with cool, not cold water
  
• Place its feet in a cool bath
  
• Offer the bird fresh water or an electrolyte solution to drink
  
• Move the bird to a cooler part of the house

The bird may go into shock if its temperature changes dramatically in a short period of time. If the bird goes into shock, try to keep it calm and take it immediately to an avian veterinarian.