Aves

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There aren't many people who haven't been fascinated with birds for one reason of another. They are the only vertebrates capable of sustained flight on their own power. They are streamlined, well built and an engineering marvel. They are also soft and are usually good at rearing their young. They are breathtakingly beautiful, but also have a wildness and freedom which makes us a trifle envious. Birds are indeed interesting.

We first find birds in the fossil record toward the end of the dinosaurs. Indeed, the earliest birds were little more than feathered reptiles. Feathers seem to be modified scales, and probably weren't used for flight as much as they were to retain heat. Over time, small feathered creatures developed wings and the ability to fly.

Flight in birds is awe-inspiring. It is only possible when the power to move through air is maximized while the weight is minimized. Over time, birds developed both abilities. To minimize weight, bome mass in birds decreased. The bones of birds are hollow, and there are fewer than in reptiles and mammals. Muscles could then be used more efficiently. Feathers also have a hollow rachis (main vein) which makes them light. The wings of birds are shaped to move air, creating the ability to fly.

There are a whole lot of birds. They can be found from pole to pole and on every continent. Often, birds are the first vertebrates to colonize new ground, and are often responsible for depositing seeds. There are about 30 orders of birds, and we can't possibly discuss them all here, but I'll tell you about a few of my favorites.

	There is something intriguing and haunting about owls in general. Their large eyes and nocturnal habits seem to suggest to the mind that they know a lot of secrets. No wonder they were thought to be wise. There are some beautiful owls. The snowy owl is a beautiful one, but my favorite owl would have to be the barn owl. There is a softness, but yet an air of mystery about them. In addition to the mystique, they are very useful in controlling the mice population.	List O' Links Your favorite bird missing? Let me know. albatross Australian birds avocet bald eagle barn owl bird_of_paradise birds of prey blackbirds blue jay button quail California quail cardinals chicken (breeds) cranes cuckoos doves ducks egrets falcons finches flamingos geese golden eagle hawks hummingbirds ibis killdeer kingfisher kiwi kookaburra lark loon magpie mockingbird nightingale orioles ostriches owls pelicans penguins pheasants pigeons puffins ravens scarlet macaw seagulls snipe starling stilt sandpiper storks swallows swans toucan turkey turkey vultures woodpecker
	Someone once told me that the reason people have a fondness for penguins is that they have the same proportions as small children. I think it may be because they're so well dressed. Penguins love to play and are excellent swimmers. They take good care of their young and are fun to watch. Do polar bears eat penguin? Not likely. Penguins are located in the southern hemisphere, while polar bears are only in the north. And not all penguins live in icy Antarctica. Some live as far north as the Galapagos islands, in nearly tropical conditions.
	For a long time, I didn't really like the ostrich. I thought it looked awkward with its knobby head, long neck and spindly legs. Then I saw a film about Africa, and there were ostriches running. They're fast. They aren't built for flight, but they are amazing at what they do. And that old story about ostriches hiding their heads in the sand? They don't do this often. It is believed they're looking for food or water underground. Not even an ostrich thinks herself invisible when hiding out.
	I first saw a snowy egret when I was in the swamps of Louisiana. The grace and beauty of these birds is swan-like, but without the annoying swan-noises. The egrets are part of the heron family, and they can get quite large. The great egret can have a wingspan of 127 centimeters (50 inches) and they're stunning in flight. THese are shore birds, and you won't find them far from water.
	Really, what's not to love about flamingos? They are a large and flamboyantly colored bird. Their curved bill allows them to be excellent at filtering food out of the water. A whole herd together is a sight to see. Flamingos are tropical or near-tropical birds. In spite of their large size, up to 130 cm (about 5 feet) tall, they fly. Flying flamingos? Fabulous!
	I'm afraid I'm revealing too much about myself when I let you know one of my favorite birds is the turkey vulture. Perhaps it was from watching too much Looney Toons.® Maybe it was a Far Side related incident. I'm not sure how this fascination began, but I learned that vultures are in the same family as the eagle, hawk and falcon. They featherless head enables them to eat carrion (dead critters) without much hastle. They're beautiful in flight, but I hope none are circling over you anytime soon.
	I really tried to throw a "normal" bird or two into this list of favorites. I even managed to not include the puffin into the list. One of the more conventional birds I've placed here is the quail. I'll admit it's pretty cute. The prominent feathers over the head of the Californa quail look like a little pompadour hairstyle. It's nearly charming. These are considered ground foul, and although they can fly, they are more content running through the underbrush.
	For any of you who know me well, you knew I'd include a raven among my favorites. This is the largest member of the crow family and even has a cool scientific name - Corvus corax. These birds are incredibly intelligent (as far as birds go) and have been known to scare away hawks and eagles. They also love shiny objects and are avid collectors. They come decked out in black and are omnivores. Ravens may be about 60 cm (24 inches) tall, and their close kin, the crows, only get to be 43 cm (17 inches) in height. This is a beautiful and powerful bird. (Can you believe I got through the whole paragraph without even mentioning Poe?)
	This entry is for all the pirates and fans of pirates out there. 'Tis be pirates which first got me interested in parrots. The largest of the parrot family is the macaw, and that's the one usually seen perched upon a pirate's shoulder. Occasionally you'll see another member of the parrot family; the cocatoo. Other members of this family are parakeets (budgies) and lovebirds, but it's hard to look like a vicious pirate with a lovebird on the shoulder. My all-time favorite of this family is the scarlet macaw.
	I decided to end this list with the smallest of birds, the hummingbird. In spite of its small size, this bird is a powerhouse. It beats its wings an average of 50 times per second. Try doing ANYTHING fifty times in a second! This amazing speed allows these birds to fly forward, backwards, up and down. They can remain stationary too, which wasn't duplicated until the invention of the helicopter. They also have amazingly fast heartbeats, and nearly shut down at night to conserve energy. They have long tongues for getting nectar and have some of the most beautiful colors in the class Aves.

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• Agnatha
(jawless fish)
• Chondricthyes
(cartilage fish)
• Osteichthyes
(bony fish)
• Amphibia
(amphibians)
• Reptilia
(reptiles)
• Mammalia
(mammals)

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