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Featured Article: Psittacosis

An immature blue heron with psittacosis

Psittacosis, or parrot fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci that occurs naturally in many birds and is communicable to human beings. Parrot fever is rare in humans but is contracted particularly from pet parrots, such as macaws, cockatiels, and budgerigars. However, it is also transmitted from pigeons, sparrows, ducks, hens, sea gulls, and many other species of bird. Human psittacosis may yield such symptoms as fever, headaches, cough, tiredness, and loss of appetite, but in severe cases can result in pneumonia.

Popular Article: Auk

Parakeet Auklets

Auk is the common name for any member of the bird family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. They are diving seabirds with a chunky body, short wings and legs, and webbed feet and are found in northern climates. The about two dozen recognized species of extant (living) auks are placed in the subfamily Alcinae and include true auks and murres, murrelets and guillemots, puffins, and auklets. The great auk was hunted on such a significant scale for food, eggs, and down that it became extinct by the mid-nineteenth century.

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The Phoenicians are credited with spreading the Phoenician alphabet throughout the Mediterranean world, so that it became one of the most widely used writing systems (source: Phoenician Civilization)

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