For mellennia, birds have been winging their way across the globe and through our imaginations. They have value culturally, artistically, philosophically and economically. But beyond that, they play a huge role in preserving our

precious ecosystem and as such, all life on this planet. Birds control pests, clean up waste and spread seeds. Around 5% of the plants humans use for food or medicine are pollinated by birds.

Despite their importance, birds are declining at a shocking rate. One in eight birds species is now threatened with extinction. But by learning about birds, we can begin to tackle the environmental crisis.

Birds are found all over the world and are one of the most well-studied groups of animals. As such, they act as an early warning system for the state of the planet as a whole. Changes in bird populations show us where habitats are being degraded, where climate change is taking its toll, and where action is needed most.

Birds have the power to unite people. Many species migrate vast distances, motivating nations to work together to protect them every step of the way. In this way, birds show us the levels of global cooperation needed to tackle the climate and extinction crises in coming years. More simply than that, a love of birds is something we can all share, regardless of our differences.