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Birds
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Birds are warm-blooded, feathered animals in the
Kingdom Animalia. They have feathers and wings that allow them to fly,
and they are found in almost every corner of the world- from the ocean,
to the woods, and to the highest of mountains. They come in all different
sizes, from tiny hummingbirds that are smaller than the palm of your hand,
to giant eagles that have a wing span of 6 feet. Some can spot a
mouse far below, some have huge talons, and some can soar through the woods
silently at night (like the Eastern
Screech Owl) searching for an unsuspecting prey. A bird might swim
in icy cold water (like the Atlantic
Puffin) hunting fish. Some have beautiful feathers in shades of
different colors, and some sit in trees while they chirp songs in the morning.
The bald eagle, one of the
most majestic birds in America, is our country's national symbol.
Birds are one of the most endangered types of animals
on the planet. They have been hunted for food, feathers, or other body
parts that were used for something else. Their homes have been being destroyed
by urban sprawl, pollution, and land development. But many laws against
hunting them and natural reserves have made bird populations grow to a
very high number.
The Atlantic puffin is a bird on the endangered species
list and was over hunted almost to extinction in the late 1800's to early
1900's. A group of scientists stopped the killing and passed the Migratory
Bird Treaty, which made it illegal to kill most types of birds. If that
law had not been passed, then many birds in the Maine area would probably
have been extinct before 1950.
Some people think that they can't help
animal populations grow and recover. They're wrong. As people living in
this ecosystem with animals, we can help by learning more about animals
and what can be done to protect them. For example, you can help by not leaving
your trash around. Or you can not drive your car to a place that is within
walking distance. The most important thing to do is to educate ourselves
about animals and what they need to survive. By doing simple things like
this, you can help animal populations recover to a very high number.
