Birds are higher vertebrates adapted to life on land and in the air. They have feathers on their bodies to maintain their body temperature. Most birds can fly and have a wide range of activities, and some have degenerated wings and cannot fly, with relatively small areas of activity, such as ostriches, penguins and most poultry. Some bird species have migratory behavior, which greatly increases the survival rate of chicks.
Birds can build nests, incubate eggs, brood young, and migrate. There are many types and numbers of birds, and they can be found all over the world. Some birds live and reproduce in their reproductive areas throughout the year, and do not migrate due to seasonal changes; some birds migrate from south to north every spring and from north to south in late autumn. This kind of bird is called "migratory bird".
Can you imagine a world without birds? The benefits that birds bring to us are not just cultural, they also play a vital role in the functioning of the world's ecosystems, directly impacting human health, economies and food production, as well as millions of other species.
Scientific research shows that birds originated from primitive reptiles 150 million years ago. The backbone of vertebrate evolution is from fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and finally humans. Birds appeared on the earth a little later than mammals. Birds are a special branch differentiated from Mesozoic reptiles. During the long evolutionary process, birds have produced a series of morphological structures and physiological functions adapted to flying life.
Birds are one of the easiest wild animals to observe. Birds are always around us in our daily life. They can soar in the sky, leap through forests, and even dive underwater. They have gorgeous feathers, vivid and beautiful singing, and add infinite vitality to nature. The role of birds on humans is beyond your imagination.
1. Spread the seeds
As birds fly and migrate, the seeds they eat are eventually dispersed through dung. They bring seeds back into devastated ecosystems, and even fly over the ocean to bring seeds to new land. Birds help us shape plant environments around the world. In New Zealand's forests, 70% of plant seeds are spread by birds. On the Palau Islands, there is one particular bird that does the main job of seed dispersal.
2. To maintain ecological balance
Birds are an important part of natural ecosystems, and species depend on each other through food chain relationships. Birds that feed on berries help plants spread seeds, and hummingbirds, nectar birds, and sunbirds help flowering plants spread their pollen. Without these birds, the renewal and succession of plants will be hindered, and the ecological balance will be severely disrupted.
3. Inspiration for science
Humans have taken inspiration from birds for centuries, from flight technology, to zippers modeled on bird feathers, and some huge human advances: Darwin's research on Galapagos finches has It has been proved to have played an important role in the formation of the idea of evolution by natural selection.