Eugene Schieffelin hoped to introduce into North America every bird mentioned by Shakespeare. He imported starlings from England and released them in Manhattan in 1890 and 1891. Starlings soon started to drive native birds out of their habitats, ate massive amounts of crops, and spread disease.
birds
The Chinese Army has been training…
The Chinese Army has been training 10,000 pigeons to provide support to the military’s communications in the event that war renders its modern technology unusable. The pigeons, flying at speeds of up to 75 miles (120 km) per hour, are being trained to carry loads of up to 3.5 oz (100 g).
Research finds that crows know…
Research finds that crows know what they know and can ponder the content of their own minds, a manifestation of higher intelligence and analytical thought long believed the sole province of humans and a few other higher mammals.
Andy, the Footless Goose
In the late 1980s a gosling was born in Harvard, Nebraska. Although this is a relatively common occurrence, this little hatchling was different, as he was born with stumps for feet. A local inventor named Gene Fleming heard of this and fitted the goose named Andy with specially made Nike baby shoes. Andy gained fame as a role model for disabled children and Nike provided him with a lifetime supply of shoes.
According to Maori legend New Zealanders…
According to Maori legend New Zealanders were prey to giant eagles; Haast Eagles, which could catch prey up to 510 lbs and had a wingspan up to 9.8 ft, went extinct around 1400.
Alex, the parrot
Alex was a grey parrot with a vocabulary of over 100 words, the ability to identify over 50 different objects, and the ability to count quantities up to 6. Before he died in 2007, his last words were “You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you.”
Birdhouses shouldn’t have…
Birdhouses shouldn’t have a perch. – “Stay away from any birdhouse with a perch. Birds don’t need them and they only make it easier for predators or unwanted birds to get in.”
3 Australian bird species…
3 Australian bird species deliberately help spread wildfires so they can find prey more easily.
The Canadian territory of Yukon operates…
The Canadian territory of Yukon operates “drunk tanks” for birds. If you encounter a bird that seems drunk (and flies into things), you can call Environment Yukon and they will place the bird under their care until it sobers up.
Wild birds in Australia…
Wild birds in Australia can be heard swearing, having learned the words from escaped pets.
Willie, a parrot, alerted…
Willie, a parrot, alerted its owner, Megan Howard, when the toddler she was babysitting began to choke. Megan was in the bathroom, the parrot began screaming “mama, baby” while flapping its wings as the child turned blue. Megan rushed over and performed the Heimlich, saving the girls life.
Eight-year-old Gabi Mann of Seattle, Washington…
Eight-year-old Gabi Mann of Seattle, Washington receives gifts from crows in her garden. She feeds the crows regularly and little “treasures” are given in return including a miniature silver ball, a black button, a blue paper clip, a yellow bead, a blue Lego piece, and a pearl colored heart.