Step
onto
any
farm
at dawn and you’ll hear it — the chatter of sparrows, the screech of a hawk, the rustling of wings through the orchard, or a woodpecker knocking. These aren’t just background sounds; they’re the orchestra of a healthy ecosystem. Birds play a crucial role in agriculture, acting as natural pest control, pollinators, and soil regenerators. Whether it’s barn owls keeping rodent populations in check or swallows devouring crop-damaging insects, a thriving bird population is more than a sign of biodiversity; it’s a cornerstone of resilient, regenerative farming. Yet, as industrial practices decimate habitats and disrupt natural cycles, many of these winged workers are disappearing. It’s time to rethink the relationship between farming and our feathered friends — because when birds thrive, the land follows. “A good example of this are woodpeckers, because they excavate these cavities,” bird biologist and falconer Adam Baz tells The Rooted Journal. “There’s a whole suite of other birds and mammals and snakes that use those cavities. So when the population of a species of woodpecker increases or declines, it almost by definition has an impact on a variety of other animals.” For example, Baz has also closely examined songbirds: In a riparian habitat, many species dine on insects that hatch when the water is the right temperature and there are trees whose shade contributes to the right conditions. “That will
mean there’s more fish. And, of course, then more birds. And when there’s more small birds, then there’s more larger birds,” he adds, alluding to a balanced food chain.
FALCONER ADAM BAZ FLIES A VARIETY OF BIRDS IN AREAS OF HABITAT DEGRADATION TO MIMIC THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS.
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ISSUE 02
BIRDS OF PARADISE
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