A BIT ABOUT BIRDS...

With more than 9000 species distributed over nearly the entire earth, birds far outnumber all other vertebrates except the fishes. Birds are among the most beautiful, fascinating and amazing creatures on the planet. Their brilliant plumage, the complexity of their social behaviour and the sheer range of their forms have combined to provide a special attraction. For variety and beauty there is no other class of animal that can come anywhere near the birds. They range in size from the tiny humming birds weighing only a few grams to the giant ostrich, measured in kilograms. Their lifestyle diversity is immense. Birds live in all kinds of habitat from forests to deserts, mountains and prairies, all the oceans and even Antarctica. There are birds that feed on nothing but seeds or nectar and others that pursue living prey by sometimes unique and often ferocious ways; their courtship and mating rituals range from the simple to the highly complex and idiosyncratic, and they demonstrate enormous variety in methods of locomotion and flight. This course will introduce you to many of these amazing characteristics within the world of aves.

Despite continuing interest in ornithology, scientists are still discovering new information about birds. For instance, in 1989, an ornithologist bitten by a Hooded Pitohui (pronounced "pit-oo-eey,") discovered that the bird, found in Papua New Guinea, is poisonous. The Pitohui and two close relatives are the first documented instances of poisonous birds. Just as interesting was the discovery that the poison produced by the pitohui has only been found so far in one frog used by native cultures for dart poison. These frogs and Pitohuis are also somewhat similar in coloration, the most poisonous having the same red and black colouration, and the least poisonous being mostly brown. Clearly, there is still so much to be learned about birds!

A bird is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as "...A feathered vertebrate with a beak, two wings, two feet, egg laying and usually able to fly." This short definition may be greatly expanded. For example, some birds have lost their ability to fly but have retained vestigial wings (eg. emus, kiwis, cassowaries).

A bird belongs to a class of vertebrate animals who share with mammals a constant body temperature and a large brain. The forelimbs have evolved into wings giving most birds the capabilities of flight. Some birds have become flightless as the structure of their wings has changed. These include the ostrich, the emu and the kiwi of New Zealand and penguins. With penguins, the wings have evolved into paddles that enhance their swimming abilities. A bird has a four chambered heart. The birds anatomy has been designed around flight. A bird must have wings, the bones must be light and hollow yet serve as a rigid frame. The respiratory system must be highly efficient to meet the intense metabolic demands of flight and serve as a thermoregulatory device to maintain a constant body temperature. They must also eat an energy-rich diet and digest it quickly and efficiently. Above all, birds must have superb vision in order to see during headfirst high-velocity flight.

To find out more about birds (or ornithology as it known in academic circles) we recommend looking at Ornithology.  Courses in ornithology are hard to come by even in universities. Our course is suitable for amateurs and serious twitchers alike.  Have a look and if you are interested enrol now or give us call or email and have a chat with one of our tutors.