Birds affect us as few other animals do.
Watch a falcon soar, and something soars within us. Listen to a sparrow’s song, and it’s hard not to whistle back.
Why are they so special? Other creatures, like bats and bees, also have wings, but birds fly highest. The secret to their success is feathers. All 9,700 or so species of birds have feathers, but no other animal does.
Birds are important to us. About 9 billion chickens and 248 million turkeys become meals each year in the United States. But it’s not just the birds we eat that matter. Birds play a big part in nature. They help control insects and spread seeds. Some pollinate flowering plants. All 50 states have their own official bird. The bald eagle is our national bird.
Birds can be found around the world. They appear in movies, books, and art. When you think of all the ways birds influence people, the sky really is the limit.
