Christmas Island warbler nest; Richard D. Chandler

Bowerbirds build large and elaborate nests to attract mates. In this process, they decorate the nest with colorful fruit; once the fruit dries up, and the bird no longer needs it, the plant is thrown away, causing the growth of this plant near the nest. These birds accidentally garden plants, this adds to their role in spreading seeds and fertilizing plants. Birds spread seeds by digesting the fruit and then disposing of its seed in a different place. They also pollinate plants while feeding from a flower. Brightly colored flowers attract birds to feed from their nectar; the bird is then covered with pollen from the anthur of the flower’s stamen. When the bird goes to the next plant, the pollen covering their bodies is
placed in the stigma of the flower.

The coloration of plants represents their role in the environmental community. Brightly colored flowers are attractive to birds and
insects. Brightly colored fruit are attractive to animals, including humans, because it makes the consumer think the fruit is ripe. The Bowerbird picks the greenest potato plant to decorate its nest with, because it is the most visually pleasing. This selection causes potato plants that are greener in color to grow around the birds nest, causing the bird to decide what plants grow in certain areas.

Bowerbirds are the only animals, other than humans, to use fruit for a use other then eating. This selection and use makes the birds “accidental genetic engineers” and cultivators of potato bushes near their nest.

It is the natural instinct of certain birds to eat fruit and drink nectar. It is also the natural instinct of Bowerbirds to create decorative
nests to mate and pass on their genes. The natural instincts of birds in general cause certain plants to be fertilized and reproduce. The relationship
between birds and flowers revolves in a cycle that is the foundation of nature.

Photo: Christmas Island warbler nest, Christmas Island, March 1967.

Richard D. Chandler, The Smithsonian Institution

Roan Cow by Sara Naghavi

The following is my personal opinion and what I personally believe to be true.

It’s no secret that I love animals. I regard animals as people, I can’t help but look at different creatures and think about how similar they are to us. Animals, any creature of God, has not only the right to life, but also the ability to feel. I truly believe that all animals think and have feelings. The only problem is that humans feel entitled over them and have justified this by separating animals into two categories; pets and food. This separation has been embedded into our habits throughout history. The fact is, however, that whether it is the dog in your house, or the cow in upstate New York, all animals experience happiness, loneliness, and fear. Just because they can’t voice how they feel, doesn’t mean that they don’t feel it. People feel disgusted when they hear about dogs being eaten in other countries, but not usually about the filet mignon on their plate. Our life is composed of a previously balanced ecosystem, the planet Earth. Every ant or seed of grass is needed to remain in equilibrium. Because of the extinction of so many species of animals, and the made-man pollution we have released, the ecosystem, and therefore the environment has changed. Because of the “industrialization” of meat that currently takes place in America, our ecosystem is facing changes that will affect our society. Now I myself love steak, and therefore am not a vegetarian, but I know there’s a problem when I can’t talk about nature or be near my pet birds, while eating meat. Although this is a hypocritical stance, it is something I am personally battling to figure out for myself.

This article explains that Americans should realize the current process of animal slaughter and how an animal ends up being on your plate. It doesn’t preach about becoming a vegetarian, rather it says that people should be conscience and realize the effects this situation has on our ecosystem and on the way we think about animals. The author suggests that people, as a whole, should try to figure out a more humane process of raising and killing animals. We currently “process” hundreds of animals per second. Pachirat, a political science graduate student worked in a slaughterhouse to “understand the normalization of violence…concluded that our isolation from killing allows us to tolerate unimaginably cruel practices simply because we don’t see them.”

Educate yourself on animals and the production of meat, and conclude your own opinions on the subject. While you’re at it, realize that too much red meat is bad for you.

PS. while we’re at the zoo this friday, appreciate the animals and the fact that although many of them might have been born in captivity or placed in captivity to be nursed to health or to be saved, many of the animals were taken from their homes and families and imprisoned behind bars.