A biomimetics study by Dr. Paulraj Subbiah on migrating birds (geese, sparrows, thrushes, warblers) sheds insight on stress management for humans. Migration is a difficult journey for birds and Dr. Subbiah identified the basic principles identified in their management of stress: 1. Principle of avoidance, 2. Principle of adaptation and 3. Principle of acceptance. 

He explains these principles in further depth in his article:

Principle of avoidance: The basic reason why the birds perform seasonal migration is to avoid the stress of severe cold that they would have to face during a particular season although the migration by itself a stress causing exercise. Unless these bird move away from the places of severe cold during that season, their chance of survival amidst the severe temperature stress would a remote one. Therefore the Nature taught them that the principle of avoidance would be the best option under such situation. Yet another stress the migrant birds likely to face is the threat of predators on their route of migration. In order to avoid the threat of their predators on their route the birds prefer to take a circuitous route knowing very well that such decision involve additional flight distance. Here also the principle of avoidance is followed while facing the stress by the birds. In both the cases, the principle of avoidance is considered as the more valuable stress management technique for that situations.

Principle of acceptance: In the above case of principle of avoidance, the birds were able to distinguish stresses that are tolerable (manageable) stresses that are intolerable (unmanageable) and they come for a compromise by accepting the tolerable stress in order to avoid the intolerable stress. Here comes the principle of acceptance. According to which, one has to accept some level of stresses and it is not advisable to wait for a stress free situation.

Principle of adaptation: Once the birds accept some types of stresses, they have to prepare themselves to face and to tolerate consequences of the stresses that they have accepted. Even if the accepted stress may be of less severe one for the time being, it has to be managed and eliminated as it likely turns into a chronic one in due course if it is allowed to prolong. Here, the Nature taught them to develop adaptations.

Anticipating the stress due to depletion of energy resources during their continuous flight, the migratory birds store sufficient quantity of fat deposits in their body as the energy reserve before starting their migration. Further, the adrenocortex of the brain that responds to stress and initiate physiological changes in normal birds, is suppressed in migrants thereby, the flight stress is not felt by them. During their prolonged migratory journey, the migrants switch over from their normal food habits to special food habits by selectively consuming antioxidant rich berry fruits. These fruits offer protection against oxidative stress that occurs during long flights. These are some of the adaptations gifted by the Nature as the stress management techniques for the migrant birds.

Thus the principle of adaptation in stress management explains how one can equip himself to combat the stress problems by bringing positive changes in behavior and physiology.

(Via http://EzineArticles.com/5806308)

(Varied Thrush/USFWS)