Zoologists should know their birds

This is clearly my opinion but it is something that I really had to find out the hard way. Zoologists should know their birds. It is an essential skills. I never paid that much attention to birds and I hate to admit it but it was wrong of me.

Birds are a great indicator of the ecosystem's health. The more variety of birds that can be seen then the more healthy the ecosystem is. In addition to that, if rare or elusive birds are spotted in large numbers that usually means that the habitat is unspoiled or well preserved. This is a great tool for zoologists and ecologists alike as with some knowledge you can estimate the health of the ecosystem as well as get a general idea of what flora might be available around.

In addition to that you can obtain some bearings in regards to the habitat you are in. Although most people tend to know where they are most of the times, birds tend to be a good indicator if you entering different habitats. For example different birds can be seen on the borders of forests rather than inside the forest or in forests close to the sea. This is how you can identify edges of different biomes or habitats. It is a useful tool as it may lead to observations regarding some animals who partake in a migratory pattern.

Birds also tend to be a living indicator of events that are happening all around you. If you spot scavenger birds circling an area then there is a kill or a corpse around. What is more sudden spurs of birds flying around, loud chirpings and warning calls may be an indicator that predators are approaching or are on the prowl. In addition to that birds usually are a good indicator of weather patterns as well as they usually can feel climatic shifts. A skilled observer may be able to predict rainfall or storms through behavioral patterns of birds.

Although some may find that birds lack of interested, bear in mind that a lot of birds or their nests are usually targets for all sorts of different animals. Thus knowing which birds nest when and where might be the key to tracking down other species. An example will be foxes which usually prey on all sorts of birds and their nests. Spying on bird nests or setting camera traps usually is a good way to capture foxes while they are out foraging.

Although there is no harm if your knowledge of birds is limited, I found that the more I learn about birds the more observant I become of things all around me and I have only starting learning about different species of birds during the summer. It's a nice piece of knowledge to have and one which one day may be handy.