Birds are a colorful, vital element of the earth's ecosystem. Humans have long had a unique relationship with them, counting on them for food but also keeping them as pets. Their bright plumage has fascinated artists, and birds have been significant symbols in literature and even tattoo art for thousands of years – we simply could not do without them.
There are around Ten thousand species of bird on the planet today, living everywhere from the deserts of Africa to the icy wastes of the Antarctic. Birds are believed to have developed from dinosaurs during the Jurassic period, around 150-200 million years back. The first known bird is the Archaeopteryx – fossils of the bird are between 150 and 145 million years of age.
Birds are generally social animals, regularly grouping together in flocks or forming breeding pairs to hatch eggs and care for young. Some species migrate over huge distances, staying together as a flock and flying in formation throughout the journey. Other social behavior includes talking with each other thru visible signals such as plumage displays, or thru calls and songs.
Some people use birds for other purposes, either as a hobby or for work. For example, pigeon racing is a popular sport where birds are released at a certain point and must make their way home in the speediest time possible. Another preferred hobby is hunting with birds of prey such as falcons and kestrels, although this needs a high level of experience and expert kit, not to mention costly birds of prey.
Images of birds can represent liberty and liberty in numerous cases, but some – like owls – can indicate bad luck in certain cultures. Birds are also a crucial part of heraldry, featuring on coats of arms and flags.
Conservation is important if we are to continue our relationship with birds. Humans have been answerable for the extinction of many species, including the dodo. Nevertheless there have also been some success stories – the California condor was brought back from the edge of extinction by a strong conservation effort.
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