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 Introduction to birds The Australian Museum has had a long history of research in ornithology (study of birds). Its collections are a valuable resource for scientific research, are part of our natural heritage and contribute to the knowledge and information available to the whole community. Birds are a familiar sight in the bush, backyards, parks and gardens. They are common inhabitants of our towns and cities and on our farms and roadsides. A diverse group, birds exhibit a range of adaptations for all environments and a variety of lifestyles. They can fly, walk, run, swim and dive and occupy the air, oceans, freshwater, seashores, rainforests, deserts and polar regions. They include the extraordinarily coloured animals and ones whose cryptic patterns enable them to be well camouflaged. They range in size from the Ostrich (2.75 m, 150 kg) to the Bee Hummingbird (2 gm). Birds fascinate us with their power of flight. They can flock in thousands, fly thousands of kilometres and reach speeds of 180 km per hour. Birds evolved more than 150 million years ago. Nowadays, they have a close relationship with humans - as part of earth's biodiversity, as pets, as food, as indicators of environmental health, as objects of beauty and wonder, as symbols of peace, wisdom and vanity.
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