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- Herausgeber: Marcus Jungnickel
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Sprache: Englisch
Useless knowledge about birds: A fascinating insight into the mysterious world of feathered friends
Birds. They are ubiquitous, from the boldest birds of prey majestically dominating the sky to the humblest sparrows chirping in our gardens. But how well do we really know them? "Useless knowledge about birds" opens our eyes to a world full of curiosities, secrets and amazing stories that nature has in store for us.
In this book, we take you on a journey of discovery far beyond what you could ever have imagined. For example, did you know that the woodpecker protects its brain from concussions by a remarkable shock-absorber system while hammering full force against tree trunks? Or that the jay hides up to 5,000 acorns in different places and remembers where it hid them all?
Immerse yourself in the colorful activity of birds disguising themselves as other animals, or learn about the amazing symbiosis between birds and other animals. Did you know that there are birds that adapt perfectly to their environment to escape predators by pretending to be poisonous caterpillars or dangerous snakes? Or that certain bird species team up with larger animals like hippos or crocodiles to find food and protect themselves from predators?
The impressive territorial songs and dances of some birds are so complex and unique that they are often called masterpieces of nature. Be enchanted by the variety and creativity of these performances, from the brilliant choreography of the bird of paradise to the impressive vocal repertoire of the lyrebird.
But birds are not only fascinating creatures of nature, they have also deeply shaped the cultures and histories of mankind. From ancient legends of birds as messengers of the gods to their depiction in art and music, this book shows how birds have captured the human imagination for centuries.
"Useless Knowledge About Birds" is more than just a collection of facts. It is a tribute to the wonders of nature and an invitation to look at the world with new eyes. It is aimed at bird lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the amazing stories our feathered friends can tell us. An absolute must for every bookshelf! Be enchanted by the incredible narratives, stunning photographs, and fascinating details in this book and learn why birds truly are the most amazing creatures on our planet. It will make you marvel, smile, and reflect, and take your knowledge of the feathered world to the next level.
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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Mia Mirillia
Useless Knowledge about Birds
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Incredible bird records
The smallest and largest birds
Fastest wing beats and slowest flyers
Loudest and softest bird calls
Chapter 2: Remarkable skills
Birds sleeping in the air
Birds that can dive or walk under water
The amazing art of using thermals
Chapter 3: Curiosities of bird feeding
Exotic delicacies
Birds feeding on unusual sources
The sophisticated hunting technique of some bird species
Chapter 4: Extraordinary bird colors
Why some birds are so colorful
The secret UV patterns that people can't see
Birds that can change their colors
Chapter 5: Strange bird habits
Nesting site selection and construction
Dancing birds and their rituals
Birds that form special partnerships
Chapter 6: Birds and their amazing journeys
The incredible distances of migratory birds
Birds that never land
How birds navigate without a map
Chapter 7: Birds in the city
The adapted survivors
Unusual nesting sites in urban areas
Curious interactions between birds and people
Chapter 8: Birds and their enemies
The sophisticated tactics to defend against the enemy
Birds masquerading as other animals
Symbioses between birds and other animals
Chapter 9: The bird communication
Birds imitating other birds
The mysterious communication of owls
Incredible district songs and dances
Chapter 10: Birds in mythology and culture
Birds as omens and signs
Birds that appear in legends and stories
Birds as inspiration in art
Amazing facts and curious knowledge for the curious, bird lovers and ornithologists
Mia Mirillia
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Incredible bird records
The smallest and largest birds
The bee elf, native to Central America and parts of North America, claims the title of the world's smallest bird. These tiny hummingbirds only reach a length of about 5.5 cm and a weight of about 1.95 g, which is about the weight of a paper clip.
The size counterpart to the bee elf is the African ostrich. It is the largest bird in the world and, despite its stately size of up to 2.8 m and a weight of up to 160 kg, it cannot fly. Instead of flying, the ostrich has developed powerful legs with which it can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h.
Despite its impressive size, the ostrich lays relatively small eggs in relation to its body. An ostrich egg can weigh up to 1.4 kg, but this is only about 1% of the body weight of a female ostrich.
While the bee elf lives in densely wooded areas and feeds on flower nectar, the ostrich inhabits the open grasslands of Africa and feeds mainly on plants, although it occasionally eats insects.
The ostrich has the largest eyes of all birds. Each eye is about the size of a tennis ball. These large eyes give it a wide field of vision and help it spot enemies from a distance.
The bee elf has extraordinary flying abilities that allow him to pause in mid-air, fly backwards and jump from flower to flower at lightning speed. These abilities are supported by his extremely fast wing beat and light body weight.
It is often assumed that birds with a large body like the ostrich have a small brain, but this is a myth. Ostriches have quite a large brain, especially considering their body size. It allows them to develop complex social structures and survive in the wild African savannah.
Despite its small size, it has an impressively large territory, which it defends aggressively against intruders, even birds much larger than it.
While an ostrich can live 40 to 45 years, the lifespan of a bee elf is much shorter. Many do not survive their first year of life, but those that do can live up to 5 years, which is impressive given their size.
Another fascinating aspect of the bee elf is their mating dance. Male bee elves perform a spectacular aerial dance, hovering back and forth in front of the female, making a humming sound to show their affection.
In contrast, the male ostrich impresses with a complex ground dance in which it spreads its wings, stomps its feet, and rocks its neck back and forth.
While ostriches are commercially farmed for their feathers, meat and leather, bee elves are protected in many parts of their range to maintain their population and ensure they are not threatened with extinction.
Another difference between the two birds is the way they incubate their eggs. While bee elves incubate their eggs in tiny, cup-shaped nests made of moss, cobwebs and plant fibers, ostriches lay their eggs in pits in the ground. Interestingly, in the ostrich, it is the males that spend most of their time incubating, hatching the eggs at night, while the females breed during the day.
An amazing detail about the ostrich is that although it cannot fly, it has wings that play an important role in its biology. These wings help him run by acting as "oars" to change direction, and they are also used in courtship.
Another remarkable fact about the bee elf is that despite its small size and fast metabolism, it is able to survive in cooler climates. It can enter a kind of cold torpor that allows it to lower its body temperature and conserve energy when food becomes scarce or temperatures drop.
Fastest wing beats and slowest flyers
Hummingbirds are known for their incredibly fast wing beats. Some species can beat up to 80 times per second! This speed allows them to hover in the air and fly in all directions at lightning speed to feed on flowers.
The hummingbirds' enormously rapid wing beats are the result of a highly specialized muscular system and a unique shoulder joint that provides more freedom of movement than other birds. These wing movements produce a buzzing sound that can often be heard before the bird itself is seen.
Another fascinating detail about hummingbirds is that their hearts can beat at an astonishing 1200 beats per minute to provide the energy for these intense flight movements.
In contrast, the flight technique of the albatrosses that sail across the world's oceans is completely different. Their broad and long wings are perfectly adapted to gliding on the wind without having to beat them frequently. Sometimes they cover hundreds of kilometers without flapping their wings once.
A fascinating feature of albatross flight is their ability to "dynamic soar." This involves them rising with the wind and gliding back down in a gentle arc, using the energy of the air currents to fly further.
Another master of gliding is the Andean condor. This impressive bird uses thermals to soar to great heights without much wing work. Andean condors have been observed to stay in the air for up to 5 hours without flapping their wings once.
The Wandering Albatross, the largest of all albatrosses, has a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters. This allows it to glide long distances across the oceans with minimal energy expenditure.
Another bird that is amazingly skilled in the air despite its size is the bearded vulture. It is known for dropping bones from great heights to break them and eat the marrow. It does this by using thermals and wind currents to keep itself in the air with minimal effort.
In complete contrast to the rapid wingbeat of the hummingbird is the flight of the American walking bird. This bird can fly so slowly that it sometimes looks as if it is standing still in the air. In fact, the American walking bird can fly at a speed of only 5 km/h, making it the slowest bird in the world.
