Population control: In nature, the balance between abundance and scarcity is maintained through complex systems of feedback loops. The population of birds is naturally regulated by factors such as food availability, predators, and habitat conditions. When resources are plentiful, bird populations can flourish; however, when resources become scarce, populations are controlled through natural mechanisms such as predation, disease, and competition. Yet human influence has disrupted these delicate feedback loops. Climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution are altering the delicate balances that have regulated bird populations for millennia. As birds face changing weather patterns, shifting migration routes, and altered breeding seasons, their populations ay no longer be regulated by nature’s traditional cycles.
This disruption is a stark reminder that humans are not separate from the natural world but are, in fact, part of its ongoing dance. Our actions affect not just our own survival, but the survival of countless other species. The delicate equilibrium maintained by birds-between birth, growth, and death reflects the larger dance of life that we, too, must navigate. And in understanding birds’ population control systems, we gain insight into our own challenges in managing the balance between growth, consumption, and sustainability.
Birds have developed a variety of traditional methods over millennia to care for themselves, ensuring their survival, well-being, and reproductive success. These methods are deeply ingrained in their biology and behaviors, often passed down through generations. From self-maintenance rituals like preening to sophisticated strategies for survival during migration, birds rely on instinct and learned behaviors to navigate their world. How birds use traditional methods to take care of themselves:
• Preening: The Art of Self-Care
One of the most well-known self-care behaviors in birds is preening, a method by which birds clean and maintain their feathers. Feathers are essential for flight, insulation, and waterproofing, so keeping them in good condition is vital for survival. Birds use their beaks to carefully groom their feathers, removing dirt, parasites, and damaged feathers, and redistributing natural oils from the preen gland near their tails. This oil acts as a waterproofing agent, helping to protect the feathers from the elements.
In addition to keeping feathers clean, preening also serves to strengthen social bonds in some species. For example, some birds engage in allopreening, where one bird preens another. This is common in species with strong social ties, such as parrots and pigeons. Through this behavior, they not only maintain their physical health but also strengthen group cohesion, an essential aspect of survival in communal species.
• Bathing
Birds also engage in bathing as a method to keep their feathers clean and maintain their overall health. Bathing helps to remove dirt and excess oils that preening alone cannot address. In some case, birds will take water baths, splashing around in shallow water to soak their feathers. Other birds, particularly in arid environments, might dust bathe- rolling in dry dust or dirt. This behavior serves multiple purposes: it helps to remove parasites like mites or lice and provides a protective coating on their feathers. By bathing, birds keep their plumage in prime condition, which is essential for flight, insulation, and sometimes attracting mates. A bird with vibrant, well- maintained feathers is often seen as a healthy and attractive mate. Some birds, like crows and ravens, are known to place insects with natural repellent properties, such as ants, on their feathers to ward off parasites.
• Feeding Strategies: Self-Sustenance
Birds have a variety of traditional methods for sourcing food, and these methods are often tailored to the species’ environment and physical capabilities. Birds are opportunistic feeders, and their feeding behavior range from foraging to hunting. For example, many songbirds forage for seeds, insects, or fruits, using their keen eyesight to detect food. They also have specialized beaks suited for different types of food: finches with thick, strong beaks for cracking seeds, hummingbirds with long, delicate bills for sipping nectar, and raptors like hawks with sharp talons for catching prey. Migratory birds, in particular, are known for their ability to sense and remember where food sources are located. They are often guided by seasonal patterns and environmental cues to time their migrations with food availability. Some birds even store food to eat later, like woodpeckers that hide insects in tree bark or crows that bury nuts to retrieve in the winter.
• Communication: Staying connected
Birds also take care of themselves by staying connected to their environment and their social groups through communication. Whether it is through songs, calls, or body language, birds use vocalizations and physical displays to alert others to danger, claim territory, attract mates, or coordinate group movements.
For instance, a warning call may signal the approach of a predator, allowing other birds to seek shelter. Similarly, courtship songs and displays are important for attracting mates, with birds like the common nightingale or lyrebird using their voices to demonstrate their strength and genetic fitness.
I would love to share my small experience with a beautiful creature I refer to as the stunning green snake. One warm evening, after the year’s first heavy rain, I stood beneath a tree on my farm with a few colleagues, observing how the tree corridors we had planted the year before were growing. Suddenly, a green snake fell from the tree, briefly landing on my shoulders before slithering to the ground. We were all startled, jumping back to take cover. However, one of us, a young man named Gado, sprang into action. Rather than retreating, he grabbed a stick, chased the snake, and killed it. Once the deed was done, he turned to check if I had been bitten.
Thankfully, I had not been harmed, but my wide eyes and slow speech betrayed the shock I was still recovering from. Of all three of us standing there, I had been the one the snake chose to land on. As I composed myself, I was unable to act quickly enough to prevent the death of the snake, despite its striking beauty. Its rich green color shimmered, radiating beauty as it moved. After landing, the snake had attempted to escape through the grass, heading toward a nearby bush, before Gado struck it down. Though I was conflicted about the killing, Gado explained that he had acted swiftly because, had I been bitten, the best remedy would have been to cook the snake and eat it in the form of pepper soup, which, according to him, was the only way to expel the poison from my body. Still, I found it hard to accept the death of such a beautiful creature, especially considering the deep respect I had cultivated over the years for all living beings. I’ve often written about my love for nature, and the snake is no exception. It fell on me, but it did not bite. It only wanted to escape peacefully before its life was taken. I’ve always believed that every creature has its rightful place in nature as part of the biodiversity that supports life on Earth, including human development. Through my experiences, I’ve come to understand that snakes, though often feared, are among the most peaceful animals in the wild. They rarely attack humans unless provoked.
The green snake is a common name for several species of snakes with green coloration. While beautiful on the outside, its true nature depends on the species; some can be venomous, others non-venomous. In Nigeria, the Philothamnus Semivariegatus is the most well-known, particularly in the tropics. This species blends seamlessly with the grass and vegetation, making it difficult to spot in its environment. Though graceful in its movements, the green snake is swift and potentially dangerous when threatened. Its life embodies the philosophy of “Live and Let Live.”
The green snake is a vital part of the rich biodiversity of our world. As we know, biodiversity is crucial to the health of our ecosystems, boosting productivity and ensuring sustainability. Too many plant and animal species are being driven toward extinction, largely due to human activity. As humans, we are the greatest threat to environmental degradation and the resulting consequences of climate change because we have exploited the lands, oceans, seas, and rivers that we share with other living beings. We often forget that, in the end, when we pass away, it is these very places we return to, where even ants will eventually feast on our bodies. We must remember that everything we rely on—the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate we depend on—comes from nature. Every species, no matter how seemingly insignificant, plays a role in this delicate balance, including the creatures that share the planet earth with us.
