Category: Birds
These iconic pet songbirds are descended from a type of wild finch endemic to the Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands. Their domestication began in the 1700’s and they eventually found their way to the European mainland by way of Spanish sailors. Initially they were an elitist novelty of British and Spanish kings but over time found their way into the hands of commoners and became highly popular pets throughout Europe. Many varieties have arisen through selective breeding and they remain popular for their ease of care and lilting song.
Asleep at the wheel?
Can you imagine spending nearly all of your life in the air? The common swift doesn’t have to - it just does! From the day this bird learns to fly, it almost never touches the ground voluntarily - it eats, drinks, mates, and may even sleep while flying. While sleep walking can be problematic in humans, many birds have the ability to enter a state called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, where one half of the brain sleeps as the other remains alert. This method of “sleeping with one eye open,” is a great way to avoid becoming another animal’s meal, and has led to the suspicion that these birds, who almost never willingly land, also sleep while in flight!
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