Birds and humans have coexisted for thousands of i years but not always harmoniously. In this article, I will address how human behavior has affected bird populations both intentionally and unintentionally. As you know, humans eat birds, but did you know that we also use bird feathers for fashion and furniture? We have even trained birds to hunt rabbits and catch fish. Today, federal and state laws in the United States prohibit the killing of birds for their feathers, and similar legislation regulates the hunting of game birds. But despite these efforts, the relationship between birds and humans is strained, particularly in the case of cormorants. Students can learn a great deal by studying this controversial bird, including how human behavior affects the environment.
