ornithophile (plural ornithophiles) A person who loves birds; a bird-lover.

ornithologists

enthusiastic bird-watcher

A twitcher is a type of birder who seeks to add as many species as possible to their life list, often without detailed or long-term observation of individual birds. Instead, twitchers are often characterized as being satisfied only with achieving a confirmed identification as quickly as possible.

Bird-watcher. The term twitcher, sometimes misapplied as a synonym for birder, is reserved for those who travel long distances to see a rare bird that would then be ticked, or counted on a list. The term originated in the 1950s, when it was used for the nervous behaviour of Howard Medhurst, a British birdwatcher.

There’s a world of difference between the two. Birdwatching entails making careful notes about the birds one sees, even if it’s the most common, boring bird imaginable. Twitchers are only interested in adding to the list of rare birds which they have seen.

Tom Gullick

noun. a person who identifies and observes birds in their natural habitat as a recreation.

Birding helps you connect with nature. If you start birdwatching, you’ll start to pay closer attention to nature. Birds don’t live in isolation– each species interacts with numerous other animals and plants, as well as elements of the non-living world such as geologic formations and weather systems.

Why is it difficult for most birds to eat from hanging feeders? most birds can not hold on to the feeder and eat at the same time.

All birds are warm-blooded, which means they can control and maintain a constant body temperature even if the temperature around them changes. Cold-blooded animals can only control their body temperatures by moving into warmer or cooler areas.

But perhaps the most important reason to study birds is to further our understanding of the ecosystems that support all life on earth, including humans. Without clean air, water, and soil, and vibrant, inter-connected natural processes, many parts of the world’s ecosystems would falter.

Pest control, public health, seed dispersal, ecotourism, environmental monitoring—these are some of the ways birds benefit humans. There are many others: After every harvest, California’s rice farmers must get rid of a waste product called rice straw.

Aves

They keep the climate stable, oxygenate air and transform pollutants into nutrients. Birds play an important role in the effective functioning of these systems. As birds are high up in the food chain, they are also good indicators of the general state of our biodiversity.

• Birds control pests. Great Tit © Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock.
• Birds pollinate plants. Long-tailed Sylph © Ondrej Prosicky / Shutterstock.
• Birds are nature’s clean-up crew.
• Birds spread seeds.
• Birds transform entire landscapes.
• Birds keep coral reefs alive.
• Birds inspire science.

habitat loss

Economic Importance Domesticated birds, such as chickens and turkeys, are raised for meat and eggs. Chickens account for much of human poultry consumption, although turkeys, ducks, and geese are also relatively common. Many species of birds are also hunted for meat.

– Rodent control – The economic importance of rodent pests. They consume and damage human foods in the field and in stores. In addition they spoil it in stores by urine and droppings reducing the sales value.

Frogs and toads are right in the middle of the food chain and provide a very efficient transfer of solar energy. (See the end of Frog and Toad Basics) They play an important role in consuming insects and are an important food source for birds, snakes, and other animals throughout the food web.

Birds eat insects. Nectar-feeding birds are important pollinators, meaning they move the pollen from flower to flower to help fertilize the sex cells and create new plants. Hummingbirds, sunbirds, and the honey-eaters are common pollinators. Many fruit-eating birds help disperse seeds.

Some animals are prey and provide food to predators. Insects and zooplankton are food sources. Animals help plants by helping pollinate flowers or by dispersing seed. They also help supply nutrients when they die and decompose.