I have a strange love for birds. People often laugh at the endearment I have for birds like they have for dogs or cats. But when asked why I like birds so much, I can answer this very succinctly: there is very few other species that can fly, walk or swim all at once like some birds can. Nor a group of species so diverse, colorful, capable and intelligent. With such an interesting evolution sharing an ancestry with the once terrifying dinosaurs that roamed the world now so commonplace and taken for granted.

Just the intelligence of birds alone is fascinating with birds that can learn human speech and understand its context, solve puzzles, solve puzzles in teams, understand the concept of self, learn human faces, give gifts, have theory of mind, perform ritual and now show empathy. All packed into a tiny "bird brain." They are truly marvelous creatures.