The Importance of Birds in the Echo System

Birds that are native to certain areas, have an important role in the natural echo systems there. Birds eat insects, berries, worms, (other birds),small mammals such as mice, squirrels, chip monks, and and a variety of fruits and nuts, which all play an important role in the food chain and echo system of the world. Birds are one of the chief pollinators in an area, and also the fact is that they eat a variety of berries and seeds that are then carried and deposited in their droppings in other areas. They carry pollen on their beaks that help pollinate a wide variety of flowers in shrubs and trees. As they go from flower to flower they transfer pollen to others as they seek nectar found in the plants. Feeding relationships are carried on by birds and mammals in the environment and this is part of the transfer of energy required in the echo system. It starts with sunlight and the process of photosynthesis which allows plants to grow. The flowers of plants then become a food source for birds, which help perpetuate the echo systems role, in which they are a part.

Seed placement, or dispersal, of seeds from plants, predatory roles in controlling populations of reptiles, insects, amphibians, and mammals, and other birds are some of the major roles of birds in the environment. Although it seems a negative role, birds also carry disease germs or bacteria that gets carried long distances and may infect other birds, mammals, and people. Birds have a mutual relationship in maintaining their role in the echo system. Birds nest and eat fruits and berries of shrubs, then help plants in turn to increase by spreading the seeds throughout the forest.

Plant species are often able to move their locations to other regions with the help of feathered friends. Some smaller islands are remote and helped by the birds fertilizing soils with non-native seeds. Regional echo systems are developed in their diversity by birds which bring seeds from other regions. The birds build nests in these areas where they help develop and maintain these areas. When forests are cut down, poisons in the form of herbicides and other chemicals used in spraying fields of crops are done, this badly affects bird populations in that area. The climate also has an effect on this .

The effects of the decline of some bird species has been discovered to disrupt the echo system.The importance of the bird species in North America and around the world, is that they play a vital role in the chain of life and the echo system. 41% of bird species that have a limited region in which they stay are facing possible extinction or are extinction prone.When distinct echo systems such as wetlands, and forests are lost, the birds and their role in the echo systems, goes with them. Climate change and habitat loss, may result, by the year 2012, to more than14% of the birds to become extinct in the world. This has a major effect on the echo system and the need for healthy birds which help in seed dispersal, pollination and predation, disrupting the food chain in many woodlands. Birds are much more important to the world than the average person realizes and their loses effect us all. When one link in the chain is removed, sometimes the result can be catastrophic.

Beautiful black birds, Mocking birds, blue birds, red birds, humming birds, shore birds, wading birds, owls, hawks, and eagles species in the world, are all under the stress of dwindling numbers in their populations.With the loss of rain forests, many tropical species are being lost. Their beauty alone is a sad loss, and the fact that they are major players in the food chain and will affect many animals, and human beings as well, makes their demise even more important. The loss of their beautiful and melodious calls will be missed and all that they give to us in making our lives complete in our world. To watch a flock of geese, ducks or other waterfowl swimming and fly above us, adds a sense of well being to us all. What evening in the country would not be complete with out the call of a lonesome loon way out on the lake and the feeling that there is at least one more soul out there, and we are not alone in the coming shadows of the night?

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