Let’s Talk Trash! NOV/ DEC 2023 ©2023 - 2024The Keenan Group, Inc-
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Birds are one of the most recognizable and diverse groups of modern vertebrates. Over the past two decades, a wealth of new fossil discoveries and phylogenetic and macroevolutionary studies has transformed our understanding of how birds originated and became so successful. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic (around 165–150 million years ago) and their classic small, lightweight, feathered, and winged body plan was pieced together gradually over tens of millions of years of evolution rather than in one burst of innovation. Early birds diversified throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous, becoming capable fliers with supercharged growth rates, but were decimated at the end-Cretaceous extinction alongside their close dinosaurian relatives. After the mass extinction, modern birds (members of the avian crown group) explosively diversified, culminating in more than 10,000 species distributed worldwide today.
PROTECT OUR BIRDS!
Marine animals are not the only ones impacted by improperly disposed of trash. Depending on the type of litter, birds can die from ingesting poisons from moldy food, cigarette butts, and other harmful substances. Plastic, balloons, and brightly colored pieces of litter looks irresistible to foraging birds but can’t be digested. These items stay in the digestive tract blocking food passage and eventually the bird will starve. Yet another reason why it is so important to dispose of your trash properly.
Source: https://www.guilfordcountync.gov
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com
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