Ornithology:The study of birds and their role in ecosystems

Ornithology explores bird behavior, anatomy, evolution, migration, and conservation, helping scientists and everyday nature lovers alike understand how these animals interact with landscapes, climate, and human activity.

More than just Feathers and Show

(BE) Ornithology

Why Wild Birds Need Rehabilitation

By David and Kelly Ward of Featherhaven

Wildlife of all kinds can end up in the hands of a licensed professional wildlife rehabilitator. The reasons behind their sickness, injury, or struggle are varied. However, in more than 90% of the cases, the causes of a wild animal’s problems are either directly or indirectly the result of human-caused impacts.

From Egg to Air

From carefully chosen nests to demanding parental care, the early life of birds is a delicate balance between survival and growth. How a chick develops, what strategies parents use, and how many young a bird raises all reflect evolutionary tradeoffs honed over millions of years.

Feathers Are More Than for Flying

Feathers are versatile tools, finely tuned by evolution to insulate, waterproof, camouflage, signal, and even produce sound. They are living evidence that in nature, a single adaptation can serve multiple purposes.

Why do Birds Migrate?

bird migration is far more complex, a delicate choreography shaped by evolution, environmental cues, and sheer endurance. Birds migrate to track resources, avoid harsh climates, and ensure their survival, and they do it with remarkable precision.

How Birds Fly

Watching a bird soar across the sky or hover midair can feel effortless, but beneath that grace is a staggering combination of physics, biology, and raw energy.

THE ECOSYSTEM MVPs (FEATHERED EDITION)

Birds quietly keep ecosystems balanced in ways we often overlook:

Birds control insect populations, preventing outbreaks that damage forests and crops

Many species spread seeds, helping forests, grasslands, and wetlands regenerate

Scavenging birds clean up carrion, slowing disease spread in the environment

Birds link food webs, feeding predators while regulating prey species

LIGHTWEIGHT BODIES, POWERFUL ADAPTATIONS

For animals built for flight, birds are evolutionary masterpieces.

Some can see ultraviolet patterns on feathers and flowers

Some navigate using Earth’s magnetic field

Some migrate thousands of miles with pinpoint accuracy

Some dive at highway speeds or hover like helicopters

Some mimic sounds, tools, and even human speech

WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE IGNORE THEIR IMPORTANCE?

Many of us notice birds only as background noise or “just pigeons.”

But birds are some of the most sensitive indicators of ecosystem health.

When bird populations decline, it often signals:

Habitat loss, Pollution, Climate shifts and Food web collapse

The birds we see every day are quietly telling the story of the planet’s wellbeing.

Birds are some of the most visible and influential members of nearly every ecosystem on Earth. From seed dispersers shaping forests, to predators regulating insect populations, to migratory species connecting continents, birds act as ecological indicators that reflect the health of the environments they inhabit. At Ecology Amateurs, ornithology isn’t about memorizing species lists. It’s about noticing patterns, asking questions, and learning how birds tell the story of the places we explore.

Ornithology Field Sheets

Can you identify the 5 species below?