What is Ornithology?



Ornithology is from the Greek words ornis and ornithos, meaning bird; and logos, meaning knowledge. It is the branch of zoology that is concerned with the study of birds. A person studying birds is called an ornithologist. The data collected is used to better identify how birds function inside and out and to understand how birds interact in their natural environment. Owing partially to the high visibility and the artistic charm of birds, some features of the study of ornithology vary from strongly related disciplines like the level of field studies taken by amateur volunteers working inside the boundaries of strict scientific methodology.

A long history in the science of ornithology and research on birds aided the instigation and modification of basic ideas in evolution, behaviour, and ecology such as those of speciation, species, learning, instinct, guilds, ecological niches, phylogeography, island biogeography, and preservation. Whilst early ornithology was essentially concerned with distributions and descriptions of species, ornithologists nowadays involve themselves with answering specific questions, regularly using birds as samples to try hypotheses and predictions based on theories. An extensive variety of instruments and methods are used in ornithology as advancements are continuously made.

Why study birds, Birds are very interesting for they are easy to see and study. They give a significant doorway into the natural environment and scientific research. They have appealing behaviours and play vital functions in the environment that sustain life. Birds are outstanding indicators of ecological health. Their varying populations frequently give indications to the overall condition of their environment.

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