Posts Tagged ‘wild bird’
How Scary Can The Birds Be?
Some birds have a way of bringing out the worst in humanity. Perhaps it is an unconscious fear implanted by movies and literature. Take for example the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds” and you get a sense of how ominous and even perhaps deadly some wild birds are to mankind. Look at what a flock of crows is called. It is called a murder. Certain birds have been associated with death and even as messengers of death. Perhaps it is just a bum rap but regardless, mankind has this fascination with anything avian.
The raven and the crow have definitely been portrayed in a bad light as the birds that you do not want to have around. Edgar Allen Poe turned the raven into a sinister messenger of doom with its cries of “nevermore.” Readers have been fascinated with his portrayal of the raven. Even fairytales have plugged away at the image of the crow/raven. Take for example Disney’s classic tale of “Sleeping Beauty.” The villainess has a crow/raven that is used as her evil spy.
The wild bird definitely deserves some respect. It is just like other wild animal. You have to keep in mind that it is territorial, will defend itself and has to find a food source. And while crows/ravens have received some bad press thanks to authors and filmmakers, vultures and other carrion eating birds have repulsed mankind for eons. This bird species is a scavenger. Anytime you see vultures or buzzards circling in the air, you know that there is either something dying or something that has already died. Most people do not set up bird feeders to attract these types of birds. They want colorful birds, songbirds and delicate hummingbirds to grace their gardens and yards.
Perhaps it is time that people got over their fear of the birds that have gotten such a tough break in literature and movies. You do not have to worry about going outside and a murder of crows attacking you for no reason. The raven is not a symbol of death or a portent of bad things ahead. They are just two legged, winged wild animals that serve a specific function in the animal kingdom.
Attracting Birds As A Relaxing Hobby
Having a hobby is not hard to do. It is hard, however, to find a hobby that fits in with your busy lifestyle and desires. If you like the outdoors and enjoy interacting with nature, then you may want to consider bird watching. After all, there are over 10,000 species of birds in the world. Even if you live in the middle of a metropolitan area, you can still find different bird species. It is a hobby that can be a real passion.
There are many times that you can easily identify birds based on their size. The ostrich is very easy to spot. You may not find them outside of a zoo or a ranch unless you live in Africa but at least you do not need a pair of binoculars to see them. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, are incredibly difficult to spot. That is why most people utilize hummingbird feeders in order to see these super fast, and super small creatures.
If you are a real fan of birds, then you will undoubtedly take steps to attract them to your garden or yard. Even if you live in an apartment with a small patio or balcony you can still find bird feeders to lure certain species in. But you need to take into consideration the type of bird you want to attract. If you are hoping to attract a blue bird then you do not need a feeder that caters to swallows. The more that you put into researching the type of bird you want around your home, the more you will know about their particular eating habits. One further note: make sure that you buy bird feeders that squirrels cannot get into.
Birds are not for everyone. Some people just do not like the species. However, if you do love watching these wild animals in their own habitats, then you will definitely enjoy being a bird watcher. Do not worry about how many there are to see. Just concentrate on having a good time and enjoying yourself. It gets you out of the house and it will do your body and mind good to get outside and get some exercise.
Useful Tips When Considering Wild Birds As Pets
The birds of this world are fascinating creatures to watch. Many exotic birds are beautifully colored and you cannot forget about songbirds that fill the air with their sweet melodies and calls. But not all birds make good pets. These are two legged, winged wild animals that deserve a certain amount of respect and some are just not meant to be caged. The act of trying to domesticate the bird takes something away from it that should not be taken. There are certain birds that have been successfully domesticated so you should check out those first before making any decision.
Wild birds include a wide variety of species. In fact, there are 10,000 different species of birds living on the planet right now. Some you can find at zoos that have a special bird house or exhibit. But in case you missed the lectures given by wildlife professionals, here is a bit of information that you might want to consider. For many years it was considered trendy and alternative to own a crow or a raven. This species of bird is completely black and has been written about many times. Many owners of this species of bird would slit the birds tongue because they thought it would make them speak in the same manner as a parrot. Unfortunately, movies often portrayed the raven or crow as a speaking bird. This damages the bird and can cause it great pain. It can also interfere with the bird’s eating habits. Take a pass on this bird if you are lonely and just want to talk; buy a Ham radio and try communicating with other humans.
Yes, there are birds of the wild that do make good pets provided that the bird owner knows how to train the bird and provide the special needs that the bird may have. Take for example the parrot mentioned above. Many people own parrots and treat them well. Unfortunately, there are also many owners who have no idea what they are getting into. Some people assume their parrot will automatically talk, yet training a parrot to do so will require a lot of knowledge and care.
Birds of certain species do make great pets. Canaries are great birds to own. Not only do they fall into the songbirds species but they also are small and relatively easy to care for. One thing to definitely keep in mind is that all birds are wild animals. Many birds will bite and claw at their owners. The owner gets frustrated and leaves the bird confined in the cage without proper handling. Before you make that next pet purchase, seriously consider the effect it will have on your life and household.
What You Should Know About The Bird Flu
If you have paid attention to the news and health alerts since 1997, then you have undoubtedly heard about the bird flu. Avian influenza is a devastating disease for domesticated fowl. One of its variations can have a mortality rate of 90-100% in 48 hours. Yes, this is devastating for farmers but it has become a world wide concern because avian influenza has begun to infect humans, for some unknown reason. It typically should not but there have been many cases when it has. This has the world wide medical community worried.
Here is how the bird flu works. It is naturally found in the intestines of wild birds where it does no harm to the bird. But sometimes when wild birds leave behind stool, urine, saliva or other fluids in the proximity of domesticated birds, the disease can become activated. With the low pathogenic strain of avian influenza the domesticated bird may suffer from decreased egg production or ruffled feathers. But with the high pathogenic version the bird is almost guaranteed to die.
The problem with containing and eradicating the virus is that a wild bird comes into contact with a wide expanse of area. It increases the range in which researchers have to work to clear the virus. The Center for Disease Control’s website has a very detailed section regarding this growing problem. With more humans coming down with avian influenza, it worries the rest of the world. The virus spreads very quickly and if it should become a common human contagion, the world could be looking at serious repercussions. Luckily, most cases of avian influenza in humans has resulted from coming into direct contact with a contaminated bird. And even then the odds are quite low of becoming infected. As of yet there have not been any confirmed cases of the virus being passed from one human to the next.
The best tool you can have to combat this disease in both yourself and your birds is information. You can find tons of misinformation about the bird flu from unreliable sources but if you want the straight facts about avian influenza, then you need to go to the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov. The website has all the information that you need to be informed.