Jake frowns a moment. He isn't entirely sure how to answer this question. Is there some non-interference law here? These people don't know about space travel, do they? What about boat travel? Man, they really could've used a more detailed briefing. He'll just have to wing it.

"From far away. Not down there, but...up," Jake points up helpfully, as far away from the red clouds as he can. "Our navigator told us that the birds have been hurting your people, wrecking your homes and crops...and I think we're kinda stuck 'til the storm's gone. So we'd like to help you get rid of it, if you'll let us."

It's a risk, but Jake hopes that revealing that they have a true motive to fix it will help. He's from New York, nobody believes in altruism up there! Except him. Sometimes.