Birds are a diverse group, and their bright colors, distinct songs and calls, and showy displays add enjoyment to our lives. Birds are very visible, quite common, and offer easy opportunities to observe their diverse plumage and behaviors. Because of this, birds are popular to many as pets and those who pursue wildlife watching and monitoring activities.

Paleontologists have found some exceptional places (lagerstätten) where fossils of early birds are found. From these remains we know that birds evolved from small carnivorous dinosaurs in the Jurassic period.Birds are classified by taxonomists as 'Aves' (Avialae). Birds are the only living descendants of dinosaurs (strictly speaking, they are dinosaurs)!!The class Aves is now defined as all the descendants of the most recent common ancestor of modern birds and Archaeopteryxlithographica.The first bird-like creaturesArchaeopteryx, from the Upper Jurassic (some 150-145 million years ago), is the earliest bird which could fly. It is famous, because it was one of the first important fossils found after Charles Darwin published his ideas about evolution in the 19th century. Palaeontologists now agree that birds evolved from Maniraptora group of dinosaurs. This explains why some consider birds to be living dinosaurs.

Keeping pet birds is one of the most popular and enjoyable hobbies today. The domestication of birds has been going on for hundreds of centuries. The ancient Chinese kept pheasants while hieroglyphic records indicate the Egyptians kept birds as pets around 4,000 or more years ago. The Romans also kept many varieties of birds as pets. Parrots were most popular because of their color, but they also kept crows, magpies and starlings because they, too, could learn to repeat words. Pet birds were so highly prized that in wealthy Roman households sometimes a slave's only assignment was to care for the birds and teach them to talk. The common man, without the connections and affluence required to obtain the more exotic specimens, would have made do with native species such as finches, doves, etc. Canaries and mocking bids were also popular as pets.

Their diverse plumage, colour, and their sweet call adds variegated shades to our monotonous daily life. Your little pet will be your mate and companion and will provide you with unconditional love with only some care for it.

Hobbylancer and You

At Hobbylancer, get in touch with different bird owners, organize bird shows and learn more about activities that could strengthen the bond between you and your bird. Make your home the ideal place for your bird today without making it feel caged and discover the joys of bird-keeping!