A bird has two types of feathers. The feathers which cover the body and keep it warm are called down feathers. The feathers which help the bird to fly are called flight feathers.

Birds like other living things, need food, but the do not have teeth to eat their food. They have beaks and claws. They use their beaks and claws to catch food and eat. They also use them to protect themselves. Like other animals, some birds eat flesh and some eat grains, seeds, and fruits. The type of a bird’s beak and claws tells us about the type of food it eats.

Birds like cranes; herons etc. look different from other birds because of their legs. These long-legged birds with spreading toes can wade through muddy water. Their legs do not sink into the mud nor do their bodies get wet.  

The board and flat beak of a duck has tiny holes at the sides. The duck takes muddy water with insects, worms and water plants, in its beak. All the mud water and water flow through these tiny holes leaving the plants and insects.

As soon as the nest is ready, egg-laying begins. While the mother bird sits on the egg to keep hem warm, the father bird protects the nest and keeps enemies away. When the baby is fully grown the eggshell breaks and the baby bird comes out. The babies that come out of the eggs are weak and featherless. Their eyes are closed.

The parents feed them and keep them warm. They protect them from enemies and bad weather. The babies are fed well and they grow very fast. The parents’ looks after the babies till their feathers grow and they learn to fly and look for food themselves. Though the birds take good care of their babies, only one-third of the young birds hatched at a time, live. Some are killed by hawks, crows, cats, squirrels and snakes. Some of them die of bad weather. Others die of diseases.

Now you know a lot about birds and their nests. If you find a nest with eggs in it, do not disturb it. Keep a watch every day. Soon you will see little birds coming out of them. Watch them grow.

Periyar wildlife sanctuary

The green forests here cover hills in parts of Kerala. These forests are home to many animals s well as the tiger. People can boat across the Periyar Lake and see different kinds of animals such as a wild pig hunting for food, a dark monitor lizard basking in the sun and bathing elephant. Colorful birds like kingfisher, hornbill and oriole dot he trees growing alongside the lake. The shy nilgiri tahr and quick other fishing in the after can often be seen. Sometimes amazing animals like the flying snake, flying and flying frog can be spotted gliding from tree to tree.