ChallengingLandscape
Birdsaren’tfurryandcuddly.Butinmanyways,they’remoresimilartousthanmammalsare.Somebuildhomesandraisefamiliesinthem.Sometakelongwintervacationsinwarmplaces.
Yet,thereisonethinghumanscandothatbirdscannot.Birdscannotcontroltheirenvironment.Theyhaveonlyinstinctstohelpthemsolveanyproblemsthey encounter.
TheMalayancrestedserpenteagle’sstrongwingshelpitfly fast.
Birds’instinctshaveservedthemwell.They’vebeenhere150 millionyearslongerthanhumans.Butnowhumansarechangingtheplanet.Andchangeiscomingtooquicklyformanybirdstoadapt.Theirfuturedependsonourpromisetoprotectthem.Aretheyvaluableenoughtomakethe effort?
Manybirds,liketheMalayancrestedserpenteagle,haveeyesonthesidesoftheirheads.Thathelpsthemscantheskiesforpredatorsandforprey.
Thebare-facedgo-away-birdwasgivenitsfunnynameforitsfeatherlessface.
TheValueofBirds
Certainly,manytypesofbirdsarevaluabletousbecauseweeatthem.Somebirdsarevaluablebecausetheyeatpestssuchasinsectsandrodents.Manybirdspollinateplantsandspread seeds.
Whydobirdsmatter?Ibelievetheymatterbecausebirdsareourlast,bestconnectiontothenatural world.
Therainbowbunting’sbrightcolorsattractmates.
Afewyearsago,IwasinaforestinnortheastIndia.Suddenly,Iheardadeepwhooshing. Itwasthewingbeatsofapairofgreathornbills.Theywereflyingtoatreewithfruit.Theyhadmassive,yellowbills.Astheyclimbedaroundinthetree,Icriedoutwithjoy.Ifeltjoyjustbybeingnear them!
Birdsdomatter.Andweshoulddo allwecantoprotectthemandtheplacestheylive.
