The study of birds is a very popular hobby for many people throughout the world. No special equipment is needed for bird study other than a notebook to list the number and kinds of birds observed and a guidebook to aid you in bird identification. However, a good pair of binoculars is recommended. Photography of birds can also be a rewarding hobby but it demands skill, patience and requires purchase of some expensive equipment.
There is an abundance of bird information available to the enthusiast. Let’s begin with a bit of history.
Evolution of Birds
Most ornithologists believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs. The first known species of bird, the archaeopteryx, lived about 150,000,000 years ago. Although it had feathers and wings, it also had reptilian features, such as teeth, claws on all four limbs, and a long, bony tail.
Fossil birds of North America were the ichthyornis, which resembled a gull, and the hesperornis, a water dweller about five feet long with sharp teeth. By about 75,000,000 years ago, the types of birds we know today had already begun to develop.
How Birds Are Classified
Referenced bird information shows that birds form the class Aves of the phylum Chordata. There are also two subclasses: Archaeornithes, which consists entirely of extinct birds (including the archaeopteryx); and Neornithes, which includes three superorders as follow:
Odontognathae Extinct birds that had teeth. Examples are the ichthyornis and hesperornis.
Impennes This consists of only one living order, Sphenisciformes or penguins.
Neognathae There are 28 orders to this superorder, including:
1. Struthioniformes
2. Rheiformes
3. Casuariiformes
4. Dinornithiformes
5. Apterygiformes
6. Tinamiformes
7. Gaviiformes
8. Colymbiformes or Podicipidiformes
9. Procellariiformes
10. Pelecaniformes
11. Ciconiiformes
12. Anseriformes
13. Falconiformes
14. Galliformes
15. Gruiformes
16. Diatrymiformes.
17. Charadriiformes
18. Columbiformes
19. Psittaciformes
20. Cuculiformes
21. Strigiformes
22. Caprimulgiformes
23. Apodiformes (formerly Micropodiformes)
24. Coliiformes
25. Trogoniformes
26. Coraciiformes
27. Piciformes
28. Passeriformes
Bird Care Tips
There are a myriad birds that make good pets. In fact, birds are among the most popular common house pets. Care must be taken though in the choosing of birds and in bird care. Here are some tips:
Choosing a Bird
While small birds, such as parakeets and canaries, require minimal care, large birds, such as parrots, cockatoos, and cockateels, can require a great deal of care and demand a lot of affection. Make sure you know about the requirements of the bird you’re considering.
Avoid buying a canary between July and October, which is the canary’s molting season. A sudden environmental change during that period may send it into shock.
Before buying a parrot, be prepared for a lifetime relationship — it may live longer than you do. Parrots become extremely attached to their owners.
Caring for Birds
When holding a pet bird, be very gentle. Bird bones are fragile — even the slightest pressure on the wrong spot can cause a fracture.
Never let a pet bird loose in the kitchen.
If a pet bird breathes through its open mouth, you know it’s sick. Buy a bird antibiotic at the pet store, pulverize it, and add it to your bird’s drinking water. If this doesn’t help, get it to the vet right away.
http://Animal-World.com will strive to provide accurate and timely information. The knowledge we have today will surely be expanded upon and modified as new studies and discoveries uncover new facts. For more bird information visit http://www.animal-world.com.
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