There are approximately 300 billion birds in the world. There are about 71/2 billion
Humans. That is about 50 birds per person. They are all around us. They flash their beautiful colors and offer a backdrop of melodious song year round. They go about their daily lives busily flying from spot to spot, eating, courting, building houses, having babies and raising their kids. Yet one would have to look very hard to see evidence of their presence. Their nests blend so well with the environment, you have to look very hard to find one. They never destroy or disfigure the landscape to design their communities. Their airports take up little space and they require very short runways for takeoff and landing. Most any perch will do. They provide half of all seed distribution in the world. They elect their leaders with little fuss and follow them with great faith. Consider a V of geese moving from the south U.S. to the arctic. They don’t bother us much in spite of their huge numbers. If conflicts occur, it seems as if we are culpable. An estimated half a million die each year from collisions with our reflective skyscrapers. The major cause of accidents and accidental deaths for raptors, including our majestic Bald Eagle is collisions with vehicles or wind turbines. If conflict occurs in the air like collisions with one of our giant airplanes, we get mad with them, in spite of at least equal right to the space!! The birds are mostly peaceful and never start wars with each other. I have photographed as many as 12 species feeding peacefully side by side on the same food at the same spot at the same time. Climate change is right now having a major negative impact on half of the world bird population in reduced habitat and food, lost nesting sites, seasonal temperature impacts that confuse migratory instincts, and create more competition for breeding sites.
It makes one wonder why God gave US dominion over THEM!!??
To see a tiny fraction of these fascinating creatures, check out the gallery below. Pics were taken over the past couple of years.
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