Collection of Insane and Fun Facts
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 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 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 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 deliberately help spread wildfires so they can find prey more easily.
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 can be heard swearing, having learned the words from escaped pets.
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 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.
Newborn ducks will take on the characteristics of the first animal they see. If the first animal they see is a human, then they will think they’re human and grow up thinking they’re human. This is called “imprinting” and it’s the natural instinct to follow the first thing they see.