essay on the importance of birds

Essay on Birds

500 words essay on birds.

Birds are very special animals that have particular characteristics which are common amongst all of them. For instance, all of them have feathers, wings and two legs. Similarly, all birds lay eggs and are warm-blooded. They are very essential for our environment and exist in different breeds. Thus, an essay on birds will take us through their importance.

Importance of Birds

Birds have different sizes and can be as small as 2 inches and as big as 2.75 metres. For instance, bee hummingbird (smallest) and ostrich (largest). Bird’s existence dates back to 160 million years ago.

There are different types of birds that exist which vary in characteristics. For instance, there are penguins that cannot fly. Further, there are birds that are known for their intelligence like Parrots and Corvidae.

Moreover, we have peacocks which are beautiful and symbolize rain and good weather. Next, there are bats and vultures as well. Birds connect very closely to the environment and are quite intuitive.

They can predict the weather conditions and some are kept near coal mines for the prediction of a mine explosion. It is because they are sensitive to the release of high levels of carbon monoxide. They are quite social and enjoy singing as well. Birds enjoy the freedom of moving anywhere without boundaries.

My Favourite Bird

My favourite bird is the parrot. It is a colourful bird that is present in many parts of the world. It comes in many shapes, sizes and colours. Parrots are famous for having vivid colours.

Some have a single, bright colour while others have a rainbow of different colours. Parrots are usually small and medium in size that mostly eats seeds, nuts and fruits. The lifespan of a parrot depends on its species.

Larger ones like cockatoos and macaws live for 80 years while the smaller ones like lovebirds live for around 15 years. In fact, parrots are quite intelligent. They have the ability to imitate human speech which is why many people keep them as pets.

Consequently, they are also the most sought-after type of bird for commercial purposes. All over the world, people are taking measures to ensure parrots get nice treatment. Many cultures also consider them sacred.

Parrots are highly intelligent and thrive at their best when they are free and not captured in cages. I used to have a parrot when I was little and I never kept it in a cage. It used to sit on my shoulder wherever I went and never flew away. Parrots are my favourite bird.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Birds

Due to hunting, poaching and disruption of the ecological balance, many birds are getting extinct. As a result, birds living in water like swans, ducks and more are also falling drastically in number because of pollution. Thus, we all must take proper measures to help the birds live and save them from extinction. Birds are vital for our ecosystem and its balance, thus we must all keep them safe.

FAQ of Essay on Birds

Question 1: How can we save birds?

Answer 1: We can save birds by doing little things like providing a source of water for them to drink. Further, we can elevate bird feeders and plant native plants and trees for them. Similarly, we can put up birdhouses and garden organically so that birds can feed on insects and worms.

Question 2: Why birds are important in our life?

Answer 2 : Birds are significant for our environment as well as for human beings as they play an important role in every living thing present on earth. Birds are one of the seed dispersers for plants who deliver us food, shelter and medicines and more.

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6 Unexpected Ways Birds Are Important for the Environment (and People)

Birds improve our quality of life. Watching them flit around a backyard feeder or hop through the grass can be an entertaining diversion, a mood booster , and a window into animal behavior. Observing our avian counterparts offers connection to nature and a reminder that we coexist with wildlife. And there’s more they do for us behind the scenes: We reap many benefits from sharing our planet with birds through what’s known as “ecosystem services.”

Ecosystem services include all of the positive benefits that natural systems provide. The term includes everything from the basic provisioning of food and oxygen, to more subtle perks such as the ways wetlands reduce storm and flood damage . Labeling these natural processes “services” makes it easier for ecologists and conservationists to quantify the value of nature (sometimes literally in dollars ) as well as what we lose through environmental damage.

Birds make big contributions across habitats, and they’re crucial for people and the planet to thrive. When avian species are lost, their particular functions and benefits disappear, too. And introduced species can’t easily replace the critical roles of native ones, according to a new study published in Science Advances . That means holding onto the bird diversity we have is paramount.

You might already know about some of the ecosystem services birds provide, for instance pollinating your favorite fruits . Here are a few of the more surprising ways birds (metaphorically) keep the world turning.

Their poop is important fertilizer.

Bird droppings, also known as guano, play a key role in spreading nutrients, and seabirds are particularly crucial. After months of eating fish and other sea creatures on the high seas, they visit land to nest in large colonies of hundreds or thousands. When seabirds bring their full stomachs ashore and poop, they concentrate nutrients at their coastal breeding grounds in enormous volumes.

In northwest Greenland, for instance, Dovekies come to land en masse every summer to breed. In doing so, they move an estimated 3,500 tons of nitrogen, an important nutrient for plants from the ocean to the soil. All that nitrogen boosts local grass growth in the normally barren Arctic habitat and feeds grazers such as hares, geese, reindeer, and muskox, which are hunted by people for food. Where there are Dovekies, muskox numbers are 10 times higher.

At one point in human history, big deposits of bird guano were so valuable as fertilizer for crops that Spain started a war over them. The advent of synthetic fertilizers means bird poop is no longer fought over, but as in Greenland guano deposits still support many ecosystems and people.

Birds’ spore-spreading can keep entire forests healthy.

It’s well known that birds transport seeds. They munch on their favorite berries, and then distribute seed-strewn droppings—ensuring that  new plants continue  to sprout up. Recently scientists have found that  some birds also have a penchant for foraging valuable fungi . In Patagonian forests, Chucao Tapaculos and Black-throated Huet-huets are voracious truffle-hunters. Whenever they dig up a fungus, eat it, and hop to the next one,  they move spores around  and propagate a diversity of tasty mushrooms.

This does more than multiply the birds’ food source: The truffles are actually the fruiting bodies of an intricate underground fungal network that keeps surrounding trees alive. The below-ground fungal filaments transport nutrients to the roots of trees in exchange for sugar.

The mutually beneficial partnership is the scaffolding that supports the whole forest system. Birds ensure it stays intact.

Birds are environmentally friendly exterminators.

What birds eat is often just as ecologically important as where they poop. For example, many birds are voracious predators of pests. Barn Swallows can consume as many as 60 insects an hour . Over an agricultural field, swallows rescue pest-prone crops and leave more food for us. And installing Barn Owl boxes on farms reduces populations of destructive rodents, like gophers . Similarly, putting up nest boxes for Western Bluebirds can save grapes on vineyards. In this way, promoting and protecting bird habitat is a great alternative to widely used, harmful pesticides.

Avian construction crews create habitat.

For birders, woodpeckers are doubly good news: a fine sight on their own, and home-builders for other cavity-nesting species. Research has shown that cavity-nesters—birds that build their homes inside tree hollows or other holes—do best when woodpeckers abound. In one recent Texas study , birds like titmice, flycatchers, and wrens were more likely to survive long-term if they built their nests in abandoned woodpecker cavities instead of those created by decay. Woodpecker-excavated holes afforded more access to tasty insects and offered better protection from predators.

Woodpeckers are so important for other species that monitoring them can tell scientists how the entire bird community is doing. They are environmental indicators: If woodpeckers are around, you can bet lots of other birds are, too.

They’re the ultimate in animal sanitation workers.

Vultures are the only vertebrate animals that eat carrion exclusively. (Other scavengers, like coyotes, also hunt for food.) Because vultures are so singularly focused, they’re remarkably efficient at picking up the scraps. Research has shown that when vulture populations fall, the number of rotting carcasses on a landscape  goes up —by a factor of 10 in a  South Carolina study . In  one Kenyan study , scientists noted that without vultures, carcasses took three times the standard amount of time to decompose. More rotting stuff means a higher risk of disease for humans and other animals. Next time you go on a hike and don’t come across a dead deer, thank a vulture.

Some birds lend other species a leg (or wing) up.

If you're still unconvinced that birds are here to help, consider that some directly assist other species—humans included. Greater Honeyguides live up to their name and range throughout sub-Saharan Africa: There, the brown-and-cream-colored birds, which eat bees’ wax and insect larvae, literally guide people to honey . In a well-documented quid pro quo , honey-hunting humans attract Greater Honeyguides through sound. (Different people around the continent have different communication cues they use to call honeyguides. The Yao community of Mozambique uses a distinctive trill. Hazda hunters in Tanzania  rely on a whistle .) Then the birds lead them to hives.

It’s an example of true teamwork. Hunters help the birds because they can more easily take down and disassemble a hive than a lone bird can. And following honeyguides lowers the amount of time hunters spend searching and increases their chances of finding a hive. 

It’s a striking example of a truth most avian enthusiasts already know: Birds make life a little sweeter.

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Why Birds Matter, and Are Worth Protecting

They help the environment, but they also help our souls. In 2018 we’ll explore the wonder of birds, and why we can’t live without them.

For most of my life, I didn’t pay attention to birds. Only in my 40s did I become a person whose heart lifts whenever he hears a grosbeak singing or a towhee calling and who hurries out to see a golden plover that’s been reported in the neighborhood, just because it’s a beautiful bird, with truly golden plumage, and has flown all the way from Alaska. When someone asks me why birds are so important to me, all I can do is sigh and shake my head, as if I’ve been asked to explain why I love my brothers. And yet the question is a fair one, worth considering in the centennial year of America’s Migratory Bird Treaty Act : Why do birds matter?

My answer might begin with the vast scale of the avian domain. If you could see every bird in the world, you’d see the whole world. Things with feathers can be found in every corner of every ocean and in land habitats so bleak that they’re habitats for nothing else. Gray gulls raise their chicks in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth.

Emperor penguins incubate their eggs in Antarctica in winter. Goshawks nest in the Berlin cemetery where Marlene Dietrich is buried, sparrows in Manhattan traffic lights, swifts in sea caves, vultures on Himalayan cliffs, chaffinches in Chernobyl. The only forms of life more widely distributed than birds are microscopic.

To survive in so many different habitats, the world’s 10,000 or so bird species have evolved into a spectacular diversity of forms. They range in size from the ostrich, which can reach nine feet in height and is widespread in Africa, to the aptly named bee hummingbird, found only in Cuba. Their bills can be massive (pelicans, toucans), tiny (weebills), or as long as the rest of their body (sword-billed hummingbirds). Some birds—the painted bunting in Texas, Gould’s sunbird in South Asia, the rainbow lorikeet in Australia—are gaudier than any flower. Others come in one of the nearly infinite shades of brown that tax the vocabulary of avian taxonomists: rufous, fulvous, ferruginous, bran-colored, foxy.

The Year of the Bird

In 1918 Congress passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to protect birds from wanton killing. To celebrate the centennial, National Geographic is partnering with the National Audubon Society , BirdLife International , and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to declare 2018 the Year of the Bird . Sign the pledge to find out this month's action and share your actions using #BirdYourWorld to increase your impact.

Birds are no less diverse behaviorally. Some are highly social, others anti. African queleas and flamingos gather in flocks of millions, and parakeets build whole parakeet cities out of sticks. Dippers walk alone and underwater, on the beds of mountain streams, and a wandering albatross may glide on its 10-foot wingspan 500 miles away from any other albatrosses. I’ve met friendly birds, like the New Zealand fantail that once followed me down a trail, and I’ve met mean ones, like the caracara in Chile that swooped down and tried to knock my head off when I stared at it too long. Roadrunners kill rattlesnakes for food by teaming up on them, one bird distracting the snake while another sneaks up behind it. Bee-eaters eat bees. Leaftossers toss leaves. Thick-billed murres can dive underwater to a depth of 700 feet, peregrine falcons downward through the air at 240 miles an hour. A wren-like rushbird can spend its entire life beside one half-acre pond, while a cerulean warbler may migrate to Peru and then find its way back to the tree in New Jersey where it nested the year before.

From finery to flight

Feathers first appeared not on birds but on dinosaurs long before birds evolved; even some early tyrannosaurs sported primitive ones. Dinosaur feathers were likely used for insulation or display. More complex feathers specialized for flight took birds—the sole remaining dinosaur lineage—to new heights.

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Birds aren’t furry and cuddly, but in many respects they’re more similar to us than other mammals are. They build intricate homes and raise families in them. They take long winter vacations in warm places. Cockatoos are shrewd thinkers, solving puzzles that would challenge a chimpanzee, and crows like to play. (On days so windy that more practical birds stay grounded, I’ve seen crows launching themselves off hillsides and doing aerial somersaults, just for the fun of it, and I keep returning to the YouTube video of a crow in Russia sledding down a snowy roof on a plastic lid, flying back up with the lid in its beak, and sledding down again.) And then there are the songs with which birds, like us, fill the world. Nightingales trill in the suburbs of Europe, thrushes in downtown Quito, hwameis in Chengdu. Chickadees have a complex language for communicating—not only to each other but to every bird in their neighborhood—about how safe or unsafe they feel from predators. Some lyrebirds in eastern Australia sing a tune their ancestors may have learned from a settler’s flute nearly a century ago. If you shoot too many pictures of a lyrebird, it will add the sound of your camera to its repertoire.

But birds also do the thing we all wish we could do but can’t, except in dreams: They fly. Eagles effortlessly ride thermals; hummingbirds pause in midair; quail burst into flight heart-stoppingly. Taken all together, the flight paths of birds bind the planet together like 100 billion filaments, tree to tree and continent to continent. There was never a time when the world seemed large to them. After breeding, a European swift will stay aloft for nearly a year, flying to sub-Saharan Africa and back, eating and molting and sleeping on the wing, without landing once. Young albatrosses spend as many as 10 years roving the open ocean before they first return to land to breed. A bar-tailed godwit has been tracked flying nonstop from Alaska to New Zealand, 7,264 miles in nine days, while a ruby-throated hummingbird may burn up a third of its tiny body weight to cross the Gulf of Mexico. The red knot, a small shorebird species, makes annual round-trips between Tierra del Fuego and the Canadian Arctic; one long-lived individual, named B95 for the tag on its leg, has flown more miles than separate the Earth and the moon.

There is, however, one critical ability that human beings have and birds do not: mastery of their environment. Birds can’t protect wetlands, can’t manage a fishery, can’t air-condition their nests. They have only the instincts and the physical abilities that evolution has bequeathed to them. These have served them well for a very long time, 150 million years longer than human beings have been around. But now human beings are changing the planet—its surface, its climate, its oceans—too quickly for birds to adapt to by evolving. Crows and gulls may thrive at our garbage dumps, blackbirds and cowbirds at our feedlots, robins and bulbuls in our city parks. But the future of most bird species depends on our commitment to preserving them. Are they valuable enough for us to make the effort?

Value, in the late Anthropocene, has come almost exclusively to mean economic value, utility to human beings. And certainly many wild birds are usefully edible. Some of them in turn eat noxious insects and rodents. Many others perform vital roles—pollinating plants, spreading seeds, serving as food for mammalian predators—in ecosystems whose continuing wildness has touristic or carbon-sequestering value. You may also hear it argued that bird populations function, like the proverbial coal-mine canary, as important indicators of ecological health. But do we really need the absence of birds to tell us when a marsh is severely polluted, a forest slashed and burned, or a fishery destroyed? The sad fact is that wild birds, in themselves, will never pull their weight in the human economy. They want to eat our blueberries.

The gift of song

Wake up early enough almost anywhere, and you’ll likely be treated to some tunes from songbirds, which make up almost half the world’s avian species. Unlike instinctual calls, the extravagantly complex pitch, rhythm, and structure of true birdsongs must be learned early in life and can vary locally within a species.

What bird populations do usefully indicate is the health of our ethical values. One reason that wild birds matter—ought to matter—is that they are our last, best connection to a natural world that is otherwise receding. They’re the most vivid and widespread representatives of the Earth as it was before people arrived on it. They share descent with the largest animals ever to walk on land: The house finch outside your window is a tiny and beautifully adapted living dinosaur. A duck on your local pond looks and sounds very much like a duck 20 million years ago, in the Miocene epoch, when birds ruled the planet. In an ever more artificial world, where featherless drones fill the air and Angry Birds can be simulated on our phones, we may see no reasonable need to cherish and support the former rulers of the natural realm. But is economic calculation our highest standard? After Shakespeare’s King Lear steps down from the throne, he pleads with his elder two daughters to grant him some vestige of his former majesty. When the daughters reply that they don’t see the need for it, the old king bursts out: “O, reason not the need!” To consign birds to oblivion is to forget what we’re the children of.

Tailored to the task

“The shape of a beak tells a poignant story of each bird’s evolution and survival, and helps us to understand its place in the world,” writes Noah Strycker in Birds of the Photo Ark . A sparrow’s sturdy triangular beak packs the power to crack seeds, while a hawk’s sharp, hooked beak makes short work of prey.

A person who says, “It’s too bad about the birds, but human beings come first” is making one of two implicit claims. The person may mean that human beings are no better than any other animal—that our fundamentally selfish selves, which are motivated by selfish genes, will always do whatever it takes to replicate our genes and maximize our pleasure, the nonhuman world be damned. This is the view of cynical realists, to whom a concern for other species is merely an annoying form of sentimentality. It’s a view that can’t be disproved, and it’s available to anyone who doesn’t mind admitting that he or she is hopelessly selfish. But “human beings come first” may also have the opposite meaning: that our species is uniquely worthy of monopolizing the world’s resources because we are not like other animals, because we have consciousness and free will, the capacity to remember our pasts and shape our futures. This opposing view can be found among both religious believers and secular humanists, and it too is neither provably true nor provably false. But it does raise the question: If we’re incomparably more worthy than other animals, shouldn’t our ability to discern right from wrong, and to knowingly sacrifice some small fraction of our convenience for a larger good, make us more susceptible to the claims of nature, rather than less? Doesn’t a unique ability carry with it a unique responsibility?

For the benefit of all

Beyond the sheer joy they provide, birds play a vital role in the environment, pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, controlling insects, and removing rotting flesh. “The future of birds, and us, are intertwined more than we know,” writes photographer Joel Sartore in Birds of the Photo Ark . “We soar, or plummet, together.”

A few years ago in a forest in northeast India, I heard and then began to feel, in my chest, a deep rhythmic whooshing. It sounded meteorological, but it was the wingbeats of a pair of great hornbills flying in to land in a fruiting tree. They had massive yellow bills and hefty white thighs; they looked like a cross between a toucan and a giant panda. As they clambered around in the tree, placidly eating fruit, I found myself crying out with the rarest of all emotions: pure joy. It had nothing to do with what I wanted or what I possessed. It was the sheer gorgeous fact of the great hornbill, which couldn’t have cared less about me.

The radical otherness of birds is integral to their beauty and their value. They are always among us but never of us. They’re the other world-dominating animals that evolution has produced, and their indifference to us ought to serve as a chastening reminder that we’re not the measure of all things. The stories we tell about the past and imagine for the future are mental constructions that birds can do without. Birds live squarely in the present. And at present, although our cats and our windows and our pesticides kill billions of them every year, and although some species, particularly on oceanic islands, have been lost forever, their world is still very much alive. In every corner of the globe, in nests as small as walnuts or as large as haystacks, chicks are pecking through their shells and into the light.

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• Why Are Birds Important?

They Contribute More To Our World Than You Might Think!

By Richard Worden

When considering the value birds add to our environment, several important factors come to mind. Likewise, human beings rely on birds for a wide variety of purposes. So, why are birds important?

Birds are important because humans rely on them as a food source, for pest control on farms, for economic growth, and for innovation. Environmentally, birds play essential roles in pollination, seed dispersal, fertilization, cleaning up the environment, and spreading nutrients in the ocean.

This article will dive deeper into the importance of birds to humans and the environment. Continue reading to discover enlightening facts that motivate you to engage in habits that make the world more habitable for these valuable creatures.

Why Are Birds Important to Humans?

Across the world, different cultures and groups have found different uses for domesticated and wild birds. Not only do we rely on birds for essential functions, but also for recreation and leisure purposes.

Birds are important to humans because they make for an essential food source and help fertilize our land and reduce pest infestation. Moreover, they hold recreational and economic importance, all while inspiring innovation. Essential Food Source

Another reason why birds are important is because they provide an essential food source as they provide both meat and eggs, which are a staple in many diets. Edible bird meat is a rich source of the following nutrients:

• Protein (specifically lean protein)

The most famous bird meat (worldwide) is chicken meat, and this is due to the following reasons:

• Relatively cheap to raise
• It is rich in lean protein (low in fat).
• Chicken meat is diverse and can be incorporated into a variety of recipes.
• Acceptable by most cultures and religions
• It is pretty tasty and relatively easy to prepare.

Overall, birds contribute to food security by providing an affordable and nutritious food source to millions worldwide.

Bird Droppings Fertilize Land

Farmers rely on bird droppings as a source of inexpensive, organic fertilizer that effectively improves crop yields. Moreover, it is an environmentally friendly option and poses no threats to animals.

These bird droppings enrich the soil with phosphorus, which plays a significant role in photosynthesis and, subsequently, plant growth. Nonetheless, you should note that the proper way to fertilize with bird droppings is to compost them and not to add them directly to the soil, as they can burn young plant roots and shoots.

You can harvest bird droppings from domesticated birds.

Globally speaking, birds are dying off in record numbers...but why? Is it caused by man? or is it a part of a natural cycle? We discuss the question of Why Are Birds Dying Off in this article of ours.

Birds Are Great For Pest Control  

Perhaps we can say that one man’s poison is another bird’s food because that is how birds help us to control pests that threaten crop yields: by feeding on them. These species are known as insectivorous birds.

An interesting fact about birds is that their breeding season happens when insect populations are at their peak. This alignment is constructive in mitigating the effects of these destructive pests because there are now more birds to prey on them and reduce the infestation.

Insectivorous birds feed on insects at each growth stage, making them quite effective at pest control.

Recreational Importance of Birds

Here are the main ways that birds are used for recreation:

• Bird watching
• Bird hunting

Bird watching is a relaxing recreational activity that many describe as an avenue for connecting with nature. Additionally, it is very beneficial to your mental health because you can unwind and disconnect from the daily stresses of everyday life as you enjoy the thrilling sights and sounds of birds.

Bird hunting is another recreational activity that some enjoy. Various government conservatories allow the hunting of birds such as ducks, geese, and pheasants for their meat (or just for the thrill of it). In addition to collecting revenue from these acts, some proceeds go toward environmental conservation efforts due to the federal duck stamp issued in 1934.

Birds also encourage ecotourism, where people travel to new places to engage in environmental conservation in one way or another. Ecotourism creates environmental awareness and promotes positive environmental practices by both tourists and hosts.

Here's a great video from the National Audubon Society further explaining why birds are so important...

Economic Importance of Birds

There are several ways that birds make a positive contribution to the economic growth of individuals and countries, and most of these have to do with the buying and selling of birds and their byproducts. 

Whether for food, pets, or ornamental purposes, bird breeding creates employment opportunities and serves as a source of income for individuals, businesses, and countries.

Food industries rely on bird meat, bones, and eggs as core ingredients for their products. Additionally, pillow and garment industries rely on bird feathers because they provide lightweight, durable, and warm stuffing for these items. 

Bird watching and bird hunting activities are also employment creation and income-generating opportunities for both governments and individuals. 

Because birds are natural predators of common plant pests, they reduce the cost of pesticides incurred by farmers when controlling pest populations. Furthermore, they contribute to better plant yields by preying on these destructive pests.

Birds Inspire Innovation

If you have ever seen a plane flying in the sky and thought it looked just like a bird, you were not wrong. In many aspects, birds have inspired the design and operation of airplanes.

Here are some ways in which airplane engineers borrow inspiration from birds:

• Wings that adapt to different types of flight
• Streamlined shape to overcome air resistance
• Light framework
• Flaps that mimic feathers

Birds have also been the inspiration for the engineering of drones.

Why Are Birds Important to the Environment?

Birds are important to the environment because they aid pollination, seed dispersal, fertilization, and help clean up the environment while also spreading nutrients in seas and oceans. Pollination

Pollination is the transfer of pollen (male gametes) from the male part of a flower to the female part. This process leads to plant fertilization and seed production, enabling plants and trees to reproduce.

Birds play a significant role in pollination and, more so, nectar-sucking birds. As birds reach in to suck nectar, pollen grains get attached to their bills and feathers. They are then transferred to the female parts of the same or other flowers during movement, fertilizing them.

Seed Dispersal

Seed dispersal is the process by which seeds are distributed from the mother plant to grow elsewhere. It ensures that plants grow a healthy distance apart, so they do not compete for nutrients and water.

Birds facilitate seed dispersal in various ways, as highlighted below:

Fertilization

• They ingest the seeds and pass them in different locations during excretion
• Seeds may also attach to the birds’ feathers as they move during feeding and drop off elsewhere as the birds move about.
• Birds may also shake seeds off the plant as they feed on the nectar or through contact with the plants while in transit.

Similarly to farmed plants, plants and trees in the wild also benefit when fertilized by bird droppings. As stated previously, bird droppings are rich in phosphorus, essential to photosynthesis and plant growth. This, along with other factors, helps sustain wild plants and trees, positively impacting the environment which is another reason why are birds important.

Cleaning Up the Environment

When animals die in the wild, their carcasses begin to decompose due to the presence of bacteria and fungi. If the animal dies from an infectious disease, the pathogens responsible are likely still present in the carcass and can easily spread to other animals.

Thankfully, scavenger birds such as crows and vultures feed on dead animal carcasses. By doing so, they clean up roadsides and prevent the spread of diseases.

Spreading Nutrients in Seas and Oceans

Seabirds contribute to the ocean’s ecosystem in a significant way. 

These birds rely on the ocean for their food. As they move through, they release droppings into the water. These droppings contain essential nutrients that promote the growth of coral reefs in the sea. Fish that survive on coral reefs therefore thrive and increase in population.

This nutrient recycling cycle is very important in maintaining a healthy fish population in oceans and seas.

Birds as Indicators of the Overall Environment

One importance of birds that impacts both human beings and the environment is that they help us to identify significant changes in environmental factors and determine the state of our environment concerning our well-being.

Birds pick up quickly on changes in their habitat and surroundings and subsequently change their behavior to adapt to the new conditions. For instance, coal miners would take canary birds with them because the birds are highly sensitive to toxic gasses like carbon monoxide, which are prevalent in mines.

As long as the birds behaved normally, the miners would be reassured that the air quality was safe for work. However, as soon as the birds began to indicate distress, the miners would promptly leave the mine to avoid poisoning.

Scientists today study changes in bird populations, specifically a decline in the number of birds in an area, as this usually indicates an environmental problem. They then use these indications as a basis for conducting further research.

Here's a few more bird articles of ours which you'll enjoy... - The Life Cycle of a Bird - How Can Birds Land on Power Lines and Not Get Shocked?

Why Are Birds Important...Final Thoughts

Birds offer immense benefits both to human beings and the environment. Therefore, they should be conserved at all costs to prevent extinction.

Some birds, such as chickens, are good for food, others, like peacocks, for ornamental purposes, while others, like parrots, serve as loyal pets. Regardless of how they contribute to our well-being or the environment, there is no doubt that they are invaluable gifts from nature.

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About the Author... Richard Worden, a dedicated bird lover for over 20 years, I love to share my in-depth knowledge and passion for birds. Read more About Me and my expertise in this field.

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Across the Americas, more than 500 native bird species are threatened with extinction — 12 percent of 4,230 species. In the United States alone, nearly 300 of 750 native bird species, or 37 percent, are declining in population.

If these declines in bird populations are not enough, consider these additional reasons that conserving birds is important.

Birds Inspire

People have always admired birds. Species like Golden Eagles , doves, and ravens permeate history and cultures around the world. Images of cranes, falcons, geese, and parrots adorn the walls of Neolithic caves, Egyptian pyramids, Mayan temples — and many American homes today.

Storks deliver us at birth and owls mourn our deaths. Each new generation marvels at the beauty of birds and envies their ability to fly.

Birds Indicate Environmental Hazards

Because they are sensitive to habitat change and are easy to census, birds are an important tool for ecologists measuring the health of environments.

Whether ecosystems are managed for agricultural production, wildlife, water, or tourism, success can be measured by the health and diversity of bird populations.

Birds Promote Conservation

Birds have been a driving force behind the conservation movement in the United States since its early days, when unregulated hunting, use of toxic pesticides , and destruction of wetlands and other habitats threatened wildlife and wild places.

The environmental problems we face today are even more complex, and we need a new generation of committed conservationists to counter them. When people discover the wonder of birds, their interest often leads to support of conservation.

Birds Support the Economy

At last count, the number of birders in the United States stood at 73 million. These bird lovers spend $40 billion annually by feeding birds, purchasing equipment, and traveling in pursuit of birds — including to many ABC-supported reserves .

Birding supports the economy, not to mention the invaluable benefits birds provide to people through ecosystem services such as insect and rodent control, plant pollination, and seed dispersal.

Our Moral Obligation

We at American Bird Conservancy believe that people have an absolute ethical obligation to maintain all other species — regardless of their functional values.

We should no more allow the loss of species than destroy a masterpiece of art: It takes only one look at an incredible bird like the Marvelous Spatuletail  or the awe-inspiring California Condor  to realize the truth of this statement.

The least our generation can do is to ensure that our children inherit as much as we have now. It is on this ethical commitment to the future that American Bird Conservancy is founded.

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Why birds matter: from economic ornithology to ecosystem services

• Published: 05 May 2015
• Volume 156 , pages 227–238, ( 2015 )

Cite this article

• Christopher J. Whelan 1 ,
• Çağan H. Şekercioğlu 2 , 3 &
• Daniel G. Wenny 4  

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Birds are conspicuous in many habitats, occur worldwide, are ecologically diverse, and are better known than other vertebrate groups. Birds devour pests, pollinate flowers, disperse seeds, scavenge carrion, cycle nutrients, and modify the environment in ways that benefit other species. Investigation of these ecosystem functions directly as ecosystem services has grown immensely over the last two decades and the ecological relevance of birds is well established. Birds are also observed, fed, and used as artistic and spiritual inspiration by millions of people around the globe. Yet the economic relevance of birds is not widely appreciated and the economic relevance to human society of birds’ ecological roles is even less understood. Quantifying the services provided by birds is crucial to understand their importance for ecosystems and for the people that benefit from them. In this paper, we briefly review the rise and fall of economic ornithology and call for a new economic ornithology with heightened standards and a holistic focus within the ecosystem services approach. Birds’ ecological roles, and therefore, ecosystem services, are critical to the health of many ecosystems and to human well-being. By understanding and valuing bird services and disservices through careful natural history research, we can better assess the environmental consequences of bird declines and extinctions and communicate these findings to the public and policy makers, thereby increasing public support for the conservation of birds and their habitats.

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Çağan H. Şekercioğlu

College of Sciences, Koç University, Rumelifeneri, Sariyer, Istanbul, 34450, Turkey

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Whelan, C.J., Şekercioğlu, Ç.H. & Wenny, D.G. Why birds matter: from economic ornithology to ecosystem services. J Ornithol 156 (Suppl 1), 227–238 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1229-y

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Published : 05 May 2015

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1229-y

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10.19: Importance of Birds

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Can you think of ways birds are important?

Birds are important members of many ecosystems. They play a vital role in controlling pests, acting as pollinators, and maintaining island ecology. In addition, birds are important to humans in many ways, such as serving as a source of food and providing fertilizer in agricultural settings.

Birds and the Ecosystem

Birds are obviously important members of many ecosystems. They are integral parts of food chains and food webs. In a woodland ecosystem for example, some birds get their food mainly from plants. Others chiefly eat small animals , such as insects or earthworms. Birds and bird eggs, in turn, serve as food for such animals as foxes, raccoons, and snakes. The feeding relationships among all the animals in an ecosystem help prevent any one species from becoming too numerous. Birds play a vital role in keeping this balance of nature. In addition to being important parts of food webs, birds play other roles within ecosystems.

• Birds eat insects. They are a natural way to control pests in gardens, on farms, and other places. A group of birds gliding through the air can easily eat hundreds of insects each day. Insect eating birds include warblers, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
• Nectar-feeding birds are important pollinators , meaning they move the pollen from flower to flower to help fertilize the sex cells and create new plants. Hummingbirds, sunbirds, and the honey-eaters are common pollinators.
• Many fruit-eating birds help disperse seeds. After eating fruit, they carry the seeds in their intestines and deposit them in new places. Fruit-eating birds include mockingbirds, orioles, finches and robins.
• Birds are often important to island ecology. In New Zealand, the kereru and kokako are important browsers, or animals that eat or nibble on leaves, tender young shoots, or other vegetation (Figure below). Seabirds add nutrients to soil and to water with their production of guano , their dung.

Birds and Humans

You are probably familiar with birds as food. People have always hunted birds for food. People eventually discovered that certain wild fowl (ducks, chickens, turkeys) could be tamed. This discovery led to the development of poultry, which is domesticated fowl that farmers raise for meat and eggs. Chickens are probably the oldest kinds of poultry. Chickens were domesticated in Asia at least 3,000 years ago. Since then, farmers have developed other poultry, including ducks, geese, guineafowl, pheasants, and turkeys. Around the world, people consume all these birds, and even more exotic birds, like ostriches. Today, chickens rank as the most widely raised poultry by far. Farmers throughout the world produce hundreds of millions of chickens annually for meat and eggs. Ducks and turkeys rank second and third in production worldwide. Ducks are raised for both meat and eggs. Turkeys are raised mainly for meat.

Can you think of other ways that birds are important?

• In agriculture, humans harvest bird droppings for use as fertilizer. These droppings have a high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, three nutrients essential for plant growth.
• Chickens are also used as an early warning system of human diseases, such as West Nile virus. Mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus, bite young chickens and other birds, and infect them with the virus. When chickens or other birds become infected, humans may also become infected in the near future.
• Birds have important cultural relationships with humans. Birds are common pets in the Western world. Common bird pets include canaries, parrots, finches, and parakeets. Sometimes, people act cooperatively with birds. For example, the Borana people in Africa use birds to guide them to honey that they use in food.
• Birds also play prominent and diverse roles in folklore, religion, and popular culture. They have been featured in art since prehistoric times, when they appeared in early cave paintings. Many young child know of Big Bird, a very large canary of Sesame Street fame.
• Feathers are also used all over the world to stuff pillows, mattresses, sleeping bags, coats, and quilting. Goose feathers are preferred because they are soft. Manufacturers often mix goose feathers with down feathers to provide extra softness.
• Birds are important to the ecosystem in many ways; they pollinate flowers and disperse seeds.
• Birds are important to humans in many ways; they are a source of food and fertilizer.

Explore More

Use the resources below to answer the questions that follow.

Explore More I

• Dispersal of Seeds by Animals at http://theseedsite.co.uk/sdanimal.html
• Why are seeds enclosed in a tasty pulp?
• Give two examples of how animals disperse seeds.

Explore More II

• How many seabirds were there at the 19th-century peak of guano collection? How many are there now? What direction is the population going?
• How has the Peruvian government changed the way guano is collected?

Explore More III

• For what purposes are people using guano?
• How does climate affect the quality of bird guano? Why is this quality important to the use of guano as fertilizer?
• What is poultry?
• What are two ways birds are important to humans?
• What are two ways birds are important to the ecosystem?
• How to birds disperse seeds? Give two examples of fruit-eating birds.

Essay on Birds 200+ Words

Birds are incredible creatures that grace our skies and forests, adding beauty, diversity, and significance to our world. In this essay, we will explore the marvelous world of birds, their importance in our ecosystem, and the fascinating aspects of their lives.

A World of Diversity

Birds come in an astonishing array of shapes, sizes, and colors. From the majestic bald eagle soaring high to the tiny hummingbird flitting about flowers, there’s a bird for every environment. In fact, there are over 10,000 different species of birds worldwide, each with its unique characteristics.

The Power of Flight

One of the most remarkable features of birds is their ability to fly. Their wings allow them to navigate the skies effortlessly. Birds have fascinated scientists for centuries, and their aerodynamic designs have inspired innovations in aviation. Leonardo da Vinci, a brilliant inventor, studied bird flight to create his flying machine designs.

Environmental Indicators

Birds serve as important indicators of the health of our environment. They are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings. Ornithologists, scientists who study birds, often use bird populations as indicators of environmental changes. A decline in certain bird species can signal problems like pollution or habitat destruction.

Ecosystem Engineers

Birds play vital roles in ecosystems by acting as “ecosystem engineers.” For example, woodpeckers create holes in trees that later become homes for other animals. Birds also help control insect populations by feeding on them. In this way, they help maintain the delicate balance of nature.

Seed Dispersers

Many birds are essential for spreading seeds. When birds eat fruits and then travel to other locations, they help plants spread and grow in new areas. This process, known as seed dispersal, is crucial for the survival of various plant species.

Songbirds and Their Melodies

Songbirds are famous for their melodious tunes. They communicate, find mates, and establish territories through their songs. Ornithologists have discovered that some birds, like the nightingale, have incredibly complex songs, with each note having a specific purpose.

Migration Marvels

Birds embark on incredible journeys during migration. They fly thousands of miles to find food, avoid harsh weather, or breed in suitable areas. For example, the Arctic Tern holds the record for the longest annual migration, traveling from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back.

Birds as Inspirations

Birds have been a source of inspiration for humans throughout history. Their grace and beauty have inspired countless works of art, literature, and poetry. Famous painters like John James Audubon dedicated their lives to depicting the beauty of birds in their natural habitats.

Birds and Biodiversity

Birds are an essential part of Earth’s biodiversity. They contribute to the interconnected web of life, where every species plays a role. When we protect birds and their habitats, we also protect countless other species and the overall health of our planet.

Conclusion of Essay on Birds

In conclusion, birds are more than just creatures that fill our skies and forests. They are diverse, adaptable, and vital to the balance of nature. Birds’ ability to fly, their environmental significance, and their cultural and artistic inspiration make them truly remarkable. It is our responsibility to appreciate, protect, and conserve these feathered marvels and ensure that they continue to enrich our world for generations to come. Birds are not just a part of nature; they are a part of our shared human heritage, reminding us of the wonders of the natural world.

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Essay on Birds

Birds are exceptionally unique creatures with distinctive traits that they all share. For instance, they all have two legs, wings, and feathers. In a similar vein, all birds have warm blood and lay eggs. They come in several breeds and are highly important to our ecology. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘Birds’.

100 Words Essay On Birds

Birds are the only vertebrates with feathers, making them a form of a vertebrate with a backbone. They can keep their body temperature constant regardless of the temperature of their environment because they have warm blood.

Birds can consume insects and other small creatures with the help of their beaks. Some birds, like parrots, can grab fruit or nuts with their beaks. Most birds construct nests in which they lay their eggs and live in flocks (in groups).

Birds are intriguing animals that have a lot to teach us about nature. We may learn about the ecology of our mother earth and the significance of protecting the environment by studying them.

200 words Essay on Birds

The field of ornithology, the study of birds, is so vast that it is impossible even to guess the number of distinct species of birds that exist worldwide. There are about 10,000 different species of birds around the globe. Scientists believe there may be even more out there that is still unidentified or undiscovered.

Birds are present on every continent and in every environment, from the Arctic to the tropics. They have a wide range of stunning colours. Common bird species include chickens, ducks, hawks, eagles, finches, sparrows, and crows. While each bird has unique characteristics, all birds share some common characteristics.

As an illustration, every bird has feathers and can fly (except a few bird species that have lost this ability). Their ability to fly, made possible by their wings, is one trait that sets them apart from other creatures.

A bird is an omnivore since it frequently eats both plants and animals. Birds eat a variety of foods, depending on their species. Hummingbirds, for example, eat on floral nectar. Vultures and other birds eat decaying meat, and the crow will eat almost anything. Additionally, we have peacocks, which are lovely and represent rain and fine weather. Birds have a strong sense of intuition and connection to their surroundings.

500 Words Essay On Birds

Birds are essential to the environment and humans because they support every living creature on Earth. They are among the people spreading the seeds of the plants that give us food, shelter, and medicines. They also transport the plants to new islands in addition to restoring the environment that has been devastated. Earth’s ecosystem balance would be disrupted if birds were to go extinct. Because birds consume insects, they are also known as environment cleaners.

For example, vultures devour decaying bodies, which can affect the environment. Without birds, the population of insects will soar quickly. But today, birds are going extinct due to deforestation—because birds depend on trees for their habitat and food. Thus, they must reside in regions humans have created, which causes a decline in bird species.

Interesting Facts About Birds

Birds can be as small as 2 inches or as large as 2.75 metres—the ostrich, for instance, and the bee, the smallest hummer (most prominent). The existence of birds dates back 160 million years.

Birds come in many different varieties, each with its unique qualities. As an illustration, certain penguins cannot fly. Other birds with a reputation for intelligence include parrots and Corvidae.

We also have beautiful peacocks that stand in for rain and good weather. Then there are the bats and the vultures. Birds are highly intuitive and highly connected to their environment.

Some of them are kept near coal mines so they can foresee mine explosions and weather conditions. They are sensitive to high carbon monoxide release, which is why. They enjoy singing and are friendly people. Birds enjoy having unrestricted, unhindered flight.

My Favourite Bird

Birds have always piqued my interest. I spent hours watching them fly and play in the park close to my house when I was younger. The parrot is one of my favourite birds. I even kept a parrot as a pet for a while named Barry. I never kept Barry in a cage. It used to sit on my shoulder everywhere I went and never flew off. I used to feed him and play with him a lot. He had beautiful feathers.

Parrots are vibrant birds that may be seen all over the world. It comes in a variety of forms, dimensions, and hues. Vibrant colours are a common characteristic of parrots.

While some have a single, vivid colour, others have a spectrum of hues. Parrots typically range in size from small to medium, and they prefer to consume seeds, nuts, and fruits. A parrot's lifespan is determined by its species.

Lovebirds, smaller than cockatoos and macaws, only survive for about 15 years on average. Parrots are intelligent. They can mimic human speech, so many people keep them as pets.

As a result, they are the most sought-after species of bird for trade. People are trying to guarantee that parrots receive good care throughout the world. They are regarded as sacred in many civilisations. Since they are knowledgeable, parrots do best when living in the wild without being kept in cages.

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Highway Engineer Job Description:  A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials. 

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth. 

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs. 

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story. 

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook. 

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion. 

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article. 

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.  

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications. 

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product. 

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans. 

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party. 

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems. 

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack 

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process. 

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Essay On Birds

500+ words essay on birds, their characteristics and how they’re important for the environment.

Of all animals in the world, birds are one of the most fascinating creatures. These winged animals can walk on the ground and even fly high in the skies. The wings, the hundreds of feathers that cover their bodies and their hollow bones are what helps them lift their bodies and fly. But not all birds can fly, birds like ostriches and penguins are flightless birds. 

There are thousands of species of birds on Earth and each of them is unique. Most of them are herbivorous, but a few species of birds are carnivorous. For example, kites, vultures, hawks, eagles etc are called birds of prey because they eat other animals.

Birds are extremely important for our environment. From pollination to keeping the earth clean and even predicting weather conditions, birds are extremely useful. In this essay on birds, learn about the characteristics of birds and how they’re vital to our ecosystem and it’s balance.

Essay On Birds: Characteristics Of Birds

Here are 5 major characteristics of birds:

• Wings: Wings are what differentiate birds from other animals. These wings are what help the birds fly. But not all birds have wings. Some birds like penguins have flippers, which helps them swim.
• Feathers: Feathers are another defining feature of birds, which separate them from other animals. Feathers help birds fly and also keep them warm and protect them against the elements.
• Beak or bill:  All birds have a beak or a bill, which is a bony projection on their faces. These beaks or bills are the entry to a bird’s mouth. Different species of birds have different kinds of beaks or bills depending on their diet. For example, predatory birds like hawks and eagles have sharp, hooked beaks, which helps in tearing and ripping meat. Birds with cone shaped beaks help them break the shells of nuts and seeds to eat them. Aquatic birds like ducks and geese have bills, which help them strain food from the water. Some birds like hummingbirds have a sharp needle-like beak that helps them suck nectar from flowers.
• Skeleton: Another distinguishing feature of birds is their hollow and lightweight but strong skeleton. This is what helps the bird lift itself off the ground and fly into the sky. But this differs in flightless birds. Penguins have large, marrow-filled bones and fat, which protects them against the cold in their frozen habitat. Ostriches have heavy, solid bones and muscles in their legs, which gives them the strength to run at high speeds and kick powerfully. 
• Eggs: Another distinctive feature of birds is that they give birth to their young ones by laying and hatching eggs. Most birds construct nests to lay and hatch their eggs and care for their hatchlings.

Now that you know the different characteristics of birds, read on to learn about the importance of birds for our environment in this essay on birds.

Also explore: Essay on animals and Essay on Zoo .

Essay On Birds: The Importance Of Birds

Birds are an important part of our environment and food chain, they’re vital to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. In fact, sometimes we need birds more than they need us.

• Pollination and Seed Dispersion: Birds are extremely important for pollination and dispersing seeds. This helps more plants grow. Additionally, bird droppings also add more nutrients to the soil, so they’re important for soil fertility too.
• Balance the food chain: Carnivorous birds eat pests and rodents like mice, rats, snakes etc. This keeps a check on rodent population and helps in pest control. Birds that eat carrion help keep the environment clean of decaying matter.
• Predicting weather: Birds are very intuitive creatures. They’re very sensitive to changes in weather and can sense high levels of carbon monoxide. So, they are often used to predict explosions in coal mines.

Sadly, these beautiful creatures are in danger. The greed of humans, climate change and pollution pose a threat to these fascinating creatures. We need to ensure that the species survives to keep the ecosystem from falling apart.

We hope you found this essay on birds helpful. For more such essays on different topics, check Osmo’s essays for kids .

Frequently Asked Questions On Birds

What are the characteristics that distinguish birds from other animals.

The characteristics that distinguish birds from other animals are their wings, feathers, beaks or bills and their lightweight and hollow skeleton.

How are birds important to the environment?

Birds are important for dispersing seeds and pollination, pest control, balancing the food chain and predicting the weather.

Essay on Birds for Students and Children in 1000+ Words

In this article, you will read an Essay on Birds for students and children in 1000+ words. It includes nature, living situation, voices, habitats, importance and 10 lines about birds.

So, let’s start this essay on birds…

Table of Contents

Introduction (Essay on Birds)

Birds are the unique creature that has the ability of flying. If they fly and spread wings in the sky, then an attractive scene is present.

In the morning and evening, the earth gets resonated with their killer. The beauty of forest-provinces is enhanced by their residence. Everyone is fascinated by their attractive colours.

Nature of Birds

Birds are very strange. Some black, some green and some purple. Their body is very light because of which they can fly easily. Their wings are light and colourful. They have two legs and two eyes.

With the help of the feet, they roam the earth . Some birds fly in the sky at very high altitudes, and some can decide only two-four feet distance.

Just as there are many types of variations found in the world, in the bird world also, many types of variations are found. But two characteristics are the same in all – one can fly, and the other is that all birds lay eggs.

Living Situation of Birds

Birds are deeply attached to nature . They live in forests, nesting in bushes and on trees. Most birds live in a shelter that it creates.

Collected the weeds, added the straw, and made a nest. Some birds are very skilled at building a nest, such bird’s know as nesting birds. They make it on sight.

Some birds do not make a nest and make a shelter in a tree cover. The woodpecker makes holes in the wood. Some large birds, such as peacocks , do not build nests and take refuge in bushes.

Voices of Birds

The soft tone of some birds attracts us. Cuckoo, papaya, parrot, etc. are all convincing of the melodious sound of birds. There is a great discussion of his voice in literature.

He has great praise in the compositions of poets. But the dialect of some birds is considered hoarse. It has also been said that who does the cuckoo give and what does the crow take, but everyone dislikes it because of the ravenous bird of the crow.

In this way, the birds want to be free, but some birds are kept domestic by humans. Birds like pigeon, parrot , a rooster can be domesticated. The parrot is ensconced in many houses and can mimic the voice of a man.

It is kept in a cage and is known and considered a special symbol of peace. Rooster is very important from a commercial point of view. We obtain eggs and meat from them.

Eating Habits of Birds

Eagle, crow, heron, rooster, etc, are some birds that eat the flesh of dead or living animals. Some birds sit on the bodies of living beings like cows , buffaloes, and eat the parasites present on their bodies.

Carnivorous birds fill their stomachs by eating meat, fish, and insects. Their activities keep the balance of the environment on the earth. Many birds are herbivores. Vegetarian birds eat cereal grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables.

Some birds live in inaccessible places. Penguin is one such bird. It can also survive in icy places in the Polar Regions. Some birds live in water. Cranes, heron, swan, watercourse, etc. are such birds. They can prey on the water for fishes and other small creatures on earth.

National Bird of India

Peacock is known as the national bird of our country, India. The wings of Peacock are colourful. It dances gracefully by spreading its wings. Various types of decorative items are made from their wings. It is a very adventurous bird. It defeats snakes in battle.

Importance of Birds

Keeping the environmental balance in mind, if birds have great significance in human life. Flying in the sky, these birds are very natural means of cleaning the environment. … How many animal birds is there that protect the flora useful for human life by eating insect germs and polluted things ?

Birds like heron, goose, and duck swim on the water and feed on the fish. A stork is a migratory bird that migrates according to the seasons. Birds also fly in the sky, run on the ground, and also swim on the water. Birds are also the identity of a nation.

Same as the national bird of India is a peacock, the Kiwi is recognised as the national bird of New Zealand. Some birds are in a particular country. The Kiwi bird is found only in New Zealand.

Humans have shared borders, but there is no border for birds. Birds can be allowed in any country of the world without permission. This entire world belongs to him, where a man cut trees in his greed.

The tree is a habitat for birds, and so it is our responsibility to protect the habitat of birds. Many birds are rare, which are going extinct. Birds are essential for life on Earth.

10 Lines on Birds

• The survival or disappearance of animal birds is very harmful to humans.
• Birds protect flora useful for human life by eating polluted items.
• The number of the human race has increased, and the number of animal birds is decreasing day by day.
• Flying in the sky, these birds are very natural means of cleaning the environment.
• Birds continue to eradicate the rotting objects lying in the piles of garbage.
• One should make the utmost effort to protect them at every level.
• Birds which are necessary for our environment. Their number is continuously decreasing.
• In this age of today, it has become difficult to spend a life of birds.
• There are many such birds, those who live their rain in the fields.
• To protect the birds from extinction, we should plant more and more plants.

Birds are an integral part of our environment. But because of poaching and dwindling forest area, some birds are in trouble. Some of these are becoming rare.

The government has enacted the Wildlife Act and sanctuaries for their safe abode. People should make reasonable efforts to save rare birds. I hope you liked this lovely essay on birds.

Thanks for reading.

1 thought on “Essay on Birds for Students and Children in 1000+ Words”

It is a nice essayvthanku fir help

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Why Are Birds Important to Ecosystems? (Explained)

Last updated on October 15th, 2022 at 02:59 pm

From the smallest hummingbird to the largest raptor, birds occupy many different trophic levels in food webs worldwide.

Birds play many roles — they are a keystone species and are crucial to the functioning of particular ecosystems.

How are birds good for the environment?

Birds pollinate flowering plants and are seed dispersal agents. Scavenging birds, like vultures, remove decomposing carcasses; birds of prey keep rodents and other pest populations at sustainable levels; and insectivorous birds control insect populations, thus avoiding plagues.

Table of Contents

Birds Occupy Many Different Niches and Ecological Roles

Within ecosystems, there are trophic webs – energy flows from producers to consumers and eventually to top predators.

Organisms within these trophic webs regulate one another, keeping the whole ecosystem in balance.

For example, seeding grasses are primary producers, finches are primary consumers that feed on the grass seed, and hawks are mid-level consumers because they prey on finches.

They, in turn, are preyed on by eagles, owls, and crows. Birds and their eggs are also prey to other animals, like snakes, raccoons, and foxes.

Birds occupy a wide variety of ecological niches – as consumers and predators. By preying on other species, birds keep prey populations at sustainable levels.

Even smaller birds that are the prey species play a role by maintaining their predators’ population levels. These are examples of direct effects.

Birds’ behavior can also have indirect effects on other species. For example, the holes that woodpeckers bore into trees create habitats for other animals.

Parasitic invertebrates like lice, mites, and flies rely on birds as host species. Many of these insects are host-specific, relying on certain species of birds to survive.

The Value of Birds in Ecosystems

Insectivorous birds, like bluebirds, swifts, grosbeaks, and warblers, control pests by eating large numbers of insects, thereby keeping their populations under control.

Research has shown that birds consume between 400 and 500 million tons of insects annually.

Not only insects, like butterflies and bees, pollinate flowers. Sunbirds, hummingbirds, and honeyeaters are important pollinating agents for a variety of flowering plants.

Birds have a much stronger sense of sight than smell. Thus bird-pollinated flowers are brightly colored, have sweet nectar and do not have a scent.

Scavenging birds, like vultures and crows, are nature’s morticians. They play a crucial role in efficiently removing dead carcasses.

This prevents rotting flesh from becoming a food source for rats and feral dogs, which spread pathogens like tuberculosis and rabies.

Some birds play a role in nutrient cycles, particularly seabirds. They travel great distances, feeding far out over the ocean.

Upon returning to their colonies, they excrete their nutrient-rich guano. Their droppings fertilize nearby coral reefs, enabling fish living on the reef to grow faster and larger.

Some species of bird have symbiotic relationships with plants in their environment.

When a bird eats a berry or fruit, it benefits by getting a nutritious snack and the plant benefits by having its seeds dispersed great distances in the bird’s digestive tract.

When the bird poops, the hard outer layer of the seed is scarified, and it can germinate.

In this way, birds promote forest growth and increase plant populations’ genetic diversity by spreading their seeds far and wide.

Of course, bird droppings aren’t always beneficial, and we cover this in an article on baby bird poop, waste, and parasites. See our article on baby birds pooping in their nests .

Birds can have massive ecological impacts. They can transform whole landscapes, like wetlands and marshes.

For example, the lush cordgrass that grows on the coastal mudflats in the south-eastern USA protects the coast from erosion.

The grass is only able to exist aplenty and serve such a vital role in the landscape because American Oystercatchers feed on Littoraria irrorate — periwinkle snails that would otherwise decimate the cordgrass. 

How Birds Benefit Humans

Birds are significant to humans due to the ecosystem services they provide. Without birds, the world would be a very different place.

Birds and their many ecological functions benefit humans in a variety of ways. We call these ecosystem services.

Birds directly impact the world’s economy, the production of food, and human health.

In agriculture, birds are important for regulating pest populations.

Having more birds around crops leads to less crop damage by insects and small mammals, which can significantly increase the profit a farmer can make from their crops.

Birds are also hugely beneficial in livestock agriculture. Many birds have developed mutualistic relationships with domestic animals, like cattle egrets.

They perch on cattle, picking off ticks and other harmful parasites. Healthy cows can produce more milk; therefore, the egrets have a direct impact on dairy farmers’ profits.

We do not often realize the important role scavengers, like vultures, play in preventing outbreaks of disease and other threats to human health.

Studies on vultures in the African Serengeti have shown that these birds can consume hundreds of pounds of bones and meat annually.

In Yemen and India, vultures are important for removing organic waste from human settlements. Vultures are amazingly efficient at cleaning up the environment.

In places where vulture populations are in decline, like India, the accumulation of animal carcasses has led to an explosion of feral dog populations.

Dogs are less efficient scavengers than vultures. This has led to outbreaks of rabies and dog attacks.

Altogether the health cost of declining vulture populations between 1993 and 2006 was a staggering $34 billion.

How Birds Benefit the Entire Planet

In many parts of the world, habitat loss and pollution have pushed some species to the brink of extinction. The absence of these birds is becoming more noticeable.

Many plants rely on birds for seed dispersal and germination. Certain hard-shelled seeds can only start growing once they have been through a bird’s digestive system.

In this way, birds contribute significantly to promoting forest growth.

In Sweden, where Eurasian jays once dispersed oak seeds, the cost of replacing the birds’ ecosystem service is valued at $4900 per hectare.

Forests sequester carbon, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, preventing it from contributing to climate change.

Reforesting vast areas with the help of birds is one way that we can mitigate climate change.

See also our article on how climate change affects birds .

• Environmental Science: Birds & Ecosystem Services
• BirdLife International: Why We Need Birds (Far More Than They Need Us)
• Endangered Species International: Ecological Roles of Birds

How to Write an Essay on Birds: 9 Interesting Areas to Focus

How to write an essay on birds? There are some interesting facts you can write about. Information about birds can be an excellent source for a creative essay. Birds are found in every part of the globe, creating a large variety of species to write about, especially when well-researched. Interesting bird facts can create wonderful topics for an essay, including unique theses that a student can explore and develop an enjoyable piece of writing.

When writing an essay about birds, it’s important to consider researching these facts, especially their biological composition. For instance, one can write an essay about birds by highlighting some distinguishing characteristics between bird species. This type of writing would be most interesting in English, particularly due to the distinctive nature of scientific descriptions. You can also include a short note about their biological differences in each section to make the essay more appealing.

Interesting Facts for Writing an Essay on Birds

Feather distinction.

One of the most interesting topics for an essay on birds is their feather diversity. Birds have distinctive appearances in structure, order, and color. Feather distinction is one of the distinguishing characteristics between species. However, some species have different colors based on various biological and environmental factors. For instance, some bird species have distinctive differences between the feathers of a male and a female. In other cases, the differences may appear disorderly but are worth investigating.

Migration marvels and global distribution

Some bird species are migratory, traveling between regions, even continents. Since the migrations coincide with seasons, they create some migration marvels worth writing about. For instance, seagulls migrate between winter and summer, running from the cold weather. During their travels, the birds create awesome displays of their traveling routines, mating habits, and hunting traditions. This topic is most suitable for nature lovers, people willing to investigate many species for their beauty and scientific facts.

Nesting prowess

You can also write an essay on birds based on their architectural techniques. Birds build their nests differently depending on their size, primary predators, and location. While the weaverbird prefers loosely hanging tree branches, the penguin can only nest on the ground near mountains and ocean shores. The structure and composition of the nest also differ significantly, creating an array of architectural designs to compare. Any person interested in birds understands the importance of a nest, especially during mating and incubation.

Egg laying facts

Birds are oviparous or egg-laying animals in English. Different species lay different egg sizes, colors, and shapes. They have distinctive characteristics based on their egg-laying habits, including location and responsibility. Some birds, such as the Cuckoo , exhibit parasitic behaviors in brooding. They lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, forcing the foster parents to incubate a foreign egg and feed an adopted chick afterward. Egg-laying habits can be quite an impressive topic for an essay on birds, especially due to the amount of scientific evidence available online.

Sociocultural rituals

Another interesting concept you can write about birds is their social lives. Like humans and any other living thing, birds socialize on different occasions. Some live in large groups, while others are loaners. However, all birds have distinctive mating rituals. Some specials engage in colorful, elaborate courtship traditions. They display marvelous moves to attract mates, using their wings and, in some cases, their avian architectural prowess to assert dominance. Birds engage in long relationships that resemble marriage in humans. The bald eagle is a good example of a bird species that marries or mates for life. The differences in sociocultural behaviors can create an amazing topic for a good essay.

Cognitive capacity

Some bird species are worth writing essays about, especially those that have shown high intelligence. Students can investigate intellectual abilities in birds to find impressive topics for their term papers and final research. You can even hire an experienced academic writer to help with the information gathering and drafting. For instance, CustomWritings professional essay writing service is a prominent helper with over ten years of experience supporting students’ journeys. While intelligent avian is attractive, finding accurate and reliable supporting evidence on such a topic can be daunting. With professional assistance, you can access scholarly articles and integrate findings from research in your essay on birds.

Vocal abilities

Birds are also known for their vocalization capabilities. While students cannot transcribe bird songs into writing, investigations into singing abilities can constitute a good essay. Most importantly, one can research birds’ ability to vocalize or mimic different sounds. Some bird species are known for their vocalization, especially when imitating humans and other birds. Others can produce relatively unique sounds, making them an attractive piece of marvel for analysis.

Scholars and researchers tend to focus on the biological differences between birds. Notably, biologists have invested significantly in understanding the genetic differences for classification and knowledge gathering. With this information, students can develop exciting topics for their essays or end-term research papers. Another interesting point of focus is the survival instincts and abilities of birds. While some species rely on camouflage for safety, others are birds of prey. The details about each bird’s genetics can help explain distribution and preferences.

Life expectancy

Similarly, the biological differences explain the differences in life expectancy. It’s difficult to ascertain the length of life in wild birds due to constant migration. However, scientific evidence suggests that some birds live longer than others. A good essay writer would consider analyzing the reasoning behind these differences and identify genetic and environmental characteristics affecting the length of life.

How Do I Write an Essay on Birds?

The best approach for writing an essay on birds involves conducting sufficient research. A good student would start by identifying an interesting fact to write about birds and research it. The information gathered from the knowledge search can then be used to create a comprehensive essay topic with a compelling thesis. The interesting facts about birds can also be a good hook for the introduction. The essay on birds should be organized professionally, adopting a basic paper structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Writing an essay on birds should also incorporate scientific and scholarly evidence. A good writer understands the need to integrate external sources with supporting and counterarguments. This approach will make your essay more interesting to read and easy to grade. Your professor may be impressed by your capacity to research a wild topic and investigate evidence found in scholarly works. Besides, supporting your arguments with reliable and verifiable arguments makes your writing believable. You can also impress the reader with ideas corroborating your knowledge of birds. For instance, you can integrate information about mating in an essay about birds’ vocal abilities to demonstrate a connection between the two issues. In the end, your essay about birds should be compelling and informative.

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More from our inbox:, civility on the court, but these are not civil times, a history of deception about politicians’ health, test the candidates, banning plastic foam.

To the Editor:

Re “ Birds Open Our Eyes and Ears ,” by Ed Yong (Opinion guest essay, March 31):

Mr. Yong has written a marvelous article that will resonate with many birders, especially in these troubled times. Many are the mornings when I’ve put aside reading the news in favor of watching the birds at my home in southeast Arizona.

To Mr. Yong’s article I would add that seeking and identifying new birds are wonderful ways to experience the world. Spending time getting to know the birds you’ve already seen can be equally fulfilling, if not even more so.

People who don’t have the luxury of traveling to find exotic species need not feel deprived; they can find fulfillment creating a songbird habitat in their backyard.

Craig Coray Patagonia, Ariz.

Thank you for the wonderful birding article. I too have become obsessive, and I am learning the names of different birds.

The positive healthy aspects of birding are obvious, but people should not just get to know birds, but also think about their safety and their food. Sanctuary and breeding grounds are being depleted around the world. Shorelines are being paved and water conditions are subpar.

Birds are not just for us to enjoy, enhancing our photo albums or improving our species lists. Stay a distance from their habitats, and don’t let your dog or cat tread on them. Get protected glass for buildings. Think of birds as precious, not as a game for humans.

Susan McHale Greenwich, Conn.

I enjoyed Ed Yong’s piece about becoming a birder. He didn’t mention some of the special joys in birding: introducing others to the pleasures of really experiencing birds; sharing a handful of seed with a child so chickadees will alight on small, outstretched fingers; taking the blue-haired receptionist out to see the red crown of a pileated woodpecker; installing a feeder for hummingbirds in a seniors’ residence.

The wonders of nature are naturally wonderful.

Susan Lindenberger White Rock, British Columbia

Ed Yong’s piece is beautiful, and I hope it inspires people to respect not just birds in the wild, but all avian species as well.

Over eight billion chickens, turkeys and ducks are brutalized and killed in America’s industrialized food system per year, and they are no less worthy of consideration than the rarest of birds spotted in the wild.

In the words of Jane Goodall: “Farm animals feel pleasure and sadness, excitement and resentment, depression, fear and pain. They are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined.”

Stewart David Venice, Fla.

Re “ Unlikely Personal Alliances on the Supreme Court ,” by Stephen Breyer (Opinion guest essay, April 4):

I am glad that Justice Breyer had a cordial relationship with the justices with whom he served on the Supreme Court. I, too, have friends with whom I disagree. However, there are times when friendship and reaching a consensus are quite beside the point.

We are living through a period of discord in the nation perhaps not seen since the Civil War. Hard-won rights are being disassembled before our eyes.

Our Capitol was attacked by a mob that threatened the peaceful transfer of power in the last presidential election. A president twice impeached escaped conviction because of the radicalization of his political party. Antisemitism is rampant in a way not seen since the 1930s and ’40s.

The Supreme Court has lost the trust of the American people. This is not only a crisis for the court but, more important, for the rule of law in general.

Civility is a two-way street. Moreover, there are times when it is more important to stand firm on principles whatever the cost to civility. We are living through such a time.

Bruce Neuman Water Mill, N.Y.

Please send Justice Stephen Breyer’s wisdom to all members of our Congress. For some it is not needed. For some, a gentle reminder. For a few, a whole new concept.

P.S. The same for candidates for president.

Stalky Lehman Orange, Calif.

Re “ ’24 Candidates Guard Details About Health ” (front page, April 5):

The history of the health of U.S. presidents and presidential candidates, which I study, offers a master class in secrecy and deception.

The American people learned only long after the fact of Grover Cleveland’s oral cancer, Franklin Roosevelt’s paralysis and Lyndon Johnson’s secret surgery to remove a skin tumor, while Jimmy Carter’s hemorrhoids remained a private matter until they were revealed to the public by President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt.

Doctors treating former Senator Paul Tsongas, a lymphoma survivor and a serious contender for the presidency in 1992, overtly lied in claiming the candidate had been cancer-free since 1986; he was dead of the disease just before what would have been the end of his term.

The notion that Joe Biden and Donald Trump are somehow less forthcoming on medical matters than the majority of their predecessors is misleading. Rather than lament that these men have not released cognitive testing results, one might ask what use such neurological testing would serve.

I have spoken to many voters on this subject over the course of the past year and, although the public may express an interest in such testing, the outcome appears unlikely to change their votes.

Jacob M. Appel New York The writer is a professor of psychiatry and medical education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

We need to learn which candidates are well qualified for government. Do they understand economics, health care, technology, government and history?

Let’s make standardized tests available for voluntary testing. Then we could see who is brave enough to be tested and who understands the important issues. This could help avoid electing politicians who are charming, but inept.

Thomas James Dolan Ionia, Iowa

Re “ Unwrapping Plastic’s Grip on Produce ” (Food, April 3):

While the substitutions cited in Kim Severson’s article offer a positive step to reduce plastic waste, we should also consider reusable and refillable alternatives.

Plastic pollution harms our health, oceans, climate and communities. The solution is to invest in reusable alternatives and phase out unnecessary single-use plastics — starting with plastic foam.

States are noticing the harmful environmental and health effects of foam foodware. Styrene, the building block of plastic foam, is probably carcinogenic, according to the World Health Organization , and is one of the most common plastics found polluting our beaches and coasts.

Last year Delaware became the 11th state to pass a law to reduce plastic foam, and more states should follow this lead. In December, the Farewell to Foam Act, a bill to phase out plastic foam across the country, was introduced in Congress. Americans should call on their elected officials to pass this bill.

Christy Leavitt Washington The writer is campaign director of Oceana.

Bird feeding benefits people as much as birds

A shley Dayer, an associate professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech , is challenging the traditional view of bird feeding as an activity solely beneficial for birds.

In a recent study, Dayer emphasizes the significance of bird feeding not only for avian populations but also for human wellbeing. This perspective invites a broader discussion on integrating bird feeding into public policy and guidance.

Human aspect of bird feeding

Dayer's approach brings a novel dimension to wildlife management by considering the human aspect alongside avian wellbeing.

"Wildlife agencies and others making decisions on managing bird feeding need to be considering not only what the science is behind what's going on with birds, but also the science behind what's going on with people," explains Dayer.

This perspective seeks to balance ecological concerns with the psychological and emotional impacts on people who engage in bird feeding.

Focus of the research

The importance of understanding human interactions with wildlife is further highlighted by Dayer's and her team's ongoing research. This unique study, perhaps the first of its kind, is not only observing birds but also the emotional responses of the people involved.

"People are not only reporting what they see at their bird feeders, but also their emotional responses to it," Dayer said. "It's pretty fun because most citizen science projects focus just on the natural or physical science, but we're now able to look at the human piece of it."

This approach, funded by a substantial grant from the National Science Foundation , delves into the psychological aspects of bird feeding, a factor often overlooked in traditional wildlife studies.

Dayer's interest in this topic was sparked by the response of various state agencies to avian disease outbreaks, often advising the public to stop feeding birds without concrete evidence of its effectiveness in disease control. This observation led to the realization that current policies lack a comprehensive understanding of the human impact of such recommendations.

The ongoing research by Dayer and her team seeks to fill this gap, aiming to inform future guidelines that consider both avian health and human wellbeing.

Collaboration with Project FeederWatch

To further their research, the team is collaborating with Project FeederWatch , a program by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.

This partnership leverages FeederWatch's extensive network and long-standing practice of bird observation, enriching the study with valuable data on bird counts and human interactions over the years.

Dayer's personal connection to birds, stemming from her family's practice, adds a heartfelt dimension to her scientific pursuit. Her mother always had bird feeders outside their family's home, and the birds became almost like children for her.

"She'll go on vacation and cut the vacation short because she needs to go home and feed her birds," Dayer said. "So I've lived with someone who was really into bird feeding and have seen how important it can be to them."

She reflects on how bird feeding can be a meaningful and accessible way for people from various backgrounds and abilities to connect with nature. "People in urban areas can feed birds. People with just a deck can feed birds. People with a wide range of physical abilities can feed birds. So it's just a great way to keep that human connection to wildlife," Dayer said.

This personal insight strengthens her advocacy for policies that recognize bird feeding as a valuable bridge between humans and wildlife.

Policies for both sides of bird feeding

Both Dayer and her colleague Dana Hawley, a professor of biological sciences, envision their work as a stepping stone towards developing guidelines that benefit both wild birds and the people who feed them.

"In all my years of studying how bird feeding impacts wild birds, I didn't give much thought to how it can also impact the people that spend their time and money feeding and watching birds," Hawley said. "I get calls every year from people who see a sick bird at their feeder and want to know how they can help prevent disease spread. All in all, this made me wonder about how policy decisions that aim to minimize disease spread can inadvertently impact the people who feed the birds."

Their goal is to establish policies that ensure the health of bird populations while fostering a healthy relationship between humans and their feathered neighbors, especially in urban and suburban settings.

In summary, through this research and advocacy, Virginia Tech's team is reshaping the narrative around bird feeding, highlighting its role as a mutually beneficial activity that deserves recognition and support in wildlife management and policy-making.

Birds and climate change

Climate change is significantly impacting bird populations worldwide. Rising temperatures are shifting habitats, compelling many species to migrate earlier or move to higher altitudes. For instance, in North America, birds traditionally seen in southern regions are now appearing further north. This shift disrupts ecosystems, as native birds compete with newcomers for food and nesting sites.

Moreover, altered weather patterns, like increased frequency and intensity of storms, are directly threatening birds. Severe weather events can destroy habitats, reduce food availability, and hinder breeding success. Coastal birds are particularly vulnerable, as rising sea levels and storm surges erode nesting sites.

Changes in seasonal cycles are also affecting birds. Earlier springs and later autumns disrupt the timing of food availability, particularly insects, which many bird species rely on for feeding their young. This mismatch between breeding times and food peak can lead to lower survival rates for fledglings.

Finally, climate change exacerbates other threats to birds, such as habitat loss and pollution. As natural habitats are altered or destroyed by climate-related factors, birds lose their homes and food sources. Pollution, intensified by climate change effects like warmer waters, further contaminates their habitats.

Overall, climate change poses a multi-faceted threat to bird populations, challenging their survival in rapidly changing environments. At the current rate, they're going to need a lot more help from bird feeders very soon just to survive.

The full study was published in the journal People and Nature .

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Check us out on EarthSnap , a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com .

Speech on Importance Of Birds And Animals In Our Life

Birds and animals are more than just creatures in our life. Their roles are crucial, from maintaining nature’s balance to bringing joy with their presence. You might be amazed at how your life intertwines with theirs.

They are our silent partners, contributing to our survival and well-being. Each bird’s song, each animal’s role, enriches our world. Let’s appreciate their significance in our shared existence.

1-minute Speech on Importance Of Birds And Animals In Our Life

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we gather today to talk about a very important topic – ‘The Importance Of Birds And Animals In Our Life’.

Birds and animals are our friends, our companions in the great journey of life. They add color, joy, and excitement to our world. Imagine a morning without the chirping of birds or a park without playful squirrels. Life would be dull, wouldn’t it?

They also help us in many ways. Did you know that bees, butterflies, and birds help plants by moving pollen from one flower to another? This is called pollination. Without them, we wouldn’t have fruits and flowers. Animals like cows and goats give us milk. Chickens give us eggs. Horses and donkeys help us in carrying heavy loads.

Birds and animals are also great teachers. They teach us how to live in harmony with nature. Ants teach us the value of hard work. Birds teach us to soar high in the sky of our dreams. Elephants teach us the power of unity and family bonds.

But sadly, many birds and animals are in danger today. Their homes are being destroyed. Many are being hunted. We need to protect them. We need to love and respect them. Because, in the end, their survival is tied to our survival.

So, let’s promise today to care for our feathered and furry friends. Let’s promise to make our planet a safe home for all. Because the beauty of life lies in its diversity, and birds and animals add to this beautiful diversity. Thank you.

2-minute Speech on Importance Of Birds And Animals In Our Life

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today we bring our attention to a topic that is dear to all of us, “The Importance of Birds and Animals in Our Life”.

Firstly, let’s consider their role in maintaining the balance in nature. Birds and animals are an essential part of the food chain. They eat plants, insects, and other animals, keeping everything in balance. Without them, there would be too much of some things and too little of others, and our world could be in trouble.

Secondly, birds and animals are vital for our food supply. Think about the eggs we eat for breakfast, the milk we put in our cereal, or the meat we have for dinner. All of these come from animals. Birds, like chickens and turkeys, provide us with meat and eggs. Cows give us milk. Even bees, a tiny creature, play a crucial role. They help plants grow by spreading pollen. Without them, we would have a lot fewer fruits and vegetables.

Next, let’s not forget the role birds and animals play in the world of science and medicine. Many medicines that we use today were first tested on animals to make sure they are safe for humans. Animals also help us understand how our bodies work. For example, doctors study how birds fly to make better planes and drones.

Birds and animals also have a big impact on our mental health. How many of you have pets at home? Pets like dogs, cats, or birds can be our best friends. They give us company and make us feel happy. Many studies show that people with pets are less likely to feel sad or lonely.

Lastly, birds and animals add beauty to our world. Imagine a world without the sweet singing of birds or the sight of a squirrel running up a tree. Wouldn’t that be dull? The vibrant colors of birds, the majestic walk of a tiger, the cute antics of a monkey – all add color and excitement to our world.

In conclusion, birds and animals are not just creatures living their own lives. They are an important part of our lives too. They help keep nature in balance, give us food, help in medical research, make us feel happy, and add beauty to our world. It is our duty to respect them and protect them. Because without them, our world would be a much less interesting place.

Let’s all make a promise today. A promise to care for every bird and every animal. Because in caring for them, we care for ourselves, for our world, and for our future. Thank you.

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Essay: The Meaning Behind the Jewelry We Wear

Writer Elizabeth Maxwell speaks on the importance of her jewelry.

I wear more jewelry than most people I come across. I understand that not many people can relate to the fact that I hardly ever remove any of it. 

The reason for this isn’t simply because I like how the items look but because I hold a strong connection to each one. This pairing of jewelry to emotion began when I was young, prompted by my mother’s influence. 

As a child, leaving my mom everyday for school proved to be difficult. To calm my angst, my mom would send me to school with a piece of her own jewelry, so a piece of her was there with me. 

I remember elementary school, sitting in a quiet classroom and feeling an overwhelming flood of fear. I didn’t know what I was afraid of, but I knew the feeling would leave if only I were reunited with the one person who knew me best. In those moments, I would hold the necklace around my neck and imagine my mom was there until I felt the tears stop. 

Throughout my life, the jewelry changed, but the comfort I felt remained the same.  

I’ve been wearing several necklaces, rings and earrings for years now and feel bare whenever they’re removed. The items have stayed on me for so long that removing them feels like removing a part of myself. 

Just as many people can feel the annoying weight of jewelry, I can feel the absence when it’s gone. 

I currently wear three necklaces and five rings and have 13 piercings that are always filled. The items are exchanged for others from time to time, but I can’t remember the last time I’ve been without a double-digit quantity of jewelry. 

Borrowing my mom’s jewelry for the day became a tradition throughout my childhood, eventually leading to her sending me to college with a small pearl necklace. I wear it on the same chain as a small key and an engraved silver circle.

I have no clue what the key was used for, just that I found it surrounded by many others in a box of my late grandfather’s things. The small circle I wear reads my grandmother’s name along with the year “1965” and the words “H.H.S. HOMECOMING QUEEN.”

My longest-worn item is the ring I wear on a chain around my neck.  My living grandfather’s old ring, it’s remained there for six years now, despite prompting numerous “The Lord of the Rings” jokes.

My newest item of jewelry is a necklace my boyfriend gave me. Taking the shape of a small hot air balloon, it represents his trip to Mexico City I was supposed to experience with him and the adventure he wishes I could’ve been there for. 

My rings change more often than any other jewelry I wear, mostly for the fact they’re the only items I seem to buy for myself. Perhaps since they’re so commonly found in thrift stores, I often find myself unable to pass by an interesting ring without purchasing it. 

While I love the rings I buy for myself, they tend to hold less significance than the ones given to me by family members.

Two of these rings are the class rings my maternal grandmother and my late paternal grandfather received at graduation. Another ring I wear is decorated with the symbol of Brittany, France. Chosen by my sister, it represents the life she had in France, bringing me closer to it despite the fact I’ve never been to Europe. 

I hold these items close to me, both in my mind and in proximity. Just as my mom told me all those years ago, carrying someone’s item with me allows me to feel their comfort even when they’re nowhere near me.

Feature image by Austin Hojdar / The Phoenix

Elizabeth Maxwell

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