URI scientists believe birds can teach us about healthy eating


Want to know what kinds of foods prevent disease? Then watch what migratory birds eat during their stopovers on Block Island. Two University of Rhode Island scientists believe that birds choose certain berries because they offer protection against oxidative stress that occurs during long flights. Oxidative stress can lead to inflammation and a variety of diseases in birds and humans. The team's preliminary findings show that birds stopping over on Block Island favor the arrow-wood berry, which contains more anti-oxidants and pigments than the 11 other island berries studied by the researchers. Navindra Seeram, assistant professor of pharmacy and head of the Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory at URI, and Scott McWilliams, URI professor of wildlife ecology and physiology, have teamed up to research migratory birds' eating habits and how their diets might be used to understand the role of berries rich in anti-oxidants in human health. Research has shown a diet rich in anti-oxidants can help prevent cancer and other serious illnesses. Seeram reported the findings today at the American Chemical Society's 239th national meeting in San Francisco. (Seeram will be interviewed about this on NPR's Science Friday, March 26.) ''We're suggesting that birds choose deeply colored berry fruits in part because of their anti-oxidant properties,'' Seeram said. About 11 years before Seeram arrived at URI, McWilliams began laying the foundation for the recent study. ''When I started studying birds during their migratory stopover on Block Island, I was impressed that most of the migratory birds ate berry fruits even though they usually eat insects or seeds at other times of the year,'' said McWilliams, who came to URI in 1999. ''I began studying the relationship between the nutritional qualities of fruits and how those nutrients might fuel migration.'' When Seeram arrived at URI two years ago, McWilliams saw a University story online that detailed Seeram's research interests. ''I saw the story about Navindra and in it he was talking about oxidative stress and inflammation and the effects berry fruits can have on reducing those impacts on people.'' So McWilliams, who does his research and teaches in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, tracked down Seeram, who works in the College of Pharmacy. They developed their mutual research interests into a successful collaboration that included URI graduate student Jessica Bolser and post-doctoral researcher Liya Li, who works in Seeram's lab. Called the lynchpin between McWilliams and Seeram, Bolser spent months in the field on Block Island observing the birds' nutritional patterns and collecting batches of 12 different kinds of berries for their analysis of anti-oxidant levels. The research indicates that birds prefer to eat certain fruits that have more antioxidants and key nutrients. In return, the seeds in the berries are dispersed by the birds. ''It's the way plants ensure their survival. Birds eat the berries, digest them and defecate the seeds over wide areas,'' McWilliams said. ''Meanwhile, the birds are attracted to the berries because of their rich color, which we believe is a plant's response to the stress of constant exposure to the sun and other stresses. Berry color could be a plant's way of fighting oxidative stress. It's a partnership that benefits plant and bird.'' The Seeram-McWilliams partnership will continue. ''We've only measured a few of these anti-oxidants,'' Seeram said. ''Our next step is to determine how birds can detect these compounds.'' ''Whenever we exercise, we undergo oxidative stress, and the same is true for birds,'' McWilliams said. ''We're flying birds in wind tunnels to produce oxidative stress, and then we are going to see if anti-oxidants found in these berries alleviate that stress,'' McWilliams said. The research may benefit human health as well as bird conservation. If further research shows the direct link between bird health and diet, then the findings will play a critical role in habitat protection for migratory birds, McWilliams said. ''That's what is so great about URI,'' Seeram said. ''Because the University is small, without the usual bureaucratic walls, we can create these partnerships. This collaboration between professors in two separate colleges would not have happened so easily in other universities and produced results so quickly.''Source: Article
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Oh! my feathered friend

Playing parrots macaws and cockatoo
People have kept birds as pets for centuries. They have been admired for their companionship and even ornamental value.  However, some birds, such as parrots and cockatoos are very intelligent and intuitive as well. When it comes to bringing a bird home, it's important to realise that it requires a commitment that is unparalleled by any other. Exotic birds such as a Cockatoo or Macaw lives up to an age of 50-60 years. Even an ordinary parakeet lives up to 20 years. Exotic birds are the most sought after feathered pets in India. By “exotic” we mean, birds that are not native to India. These include; the African Love Birds, Zebra Finches, Java Sparrows and Budgerigars — commonly known as Lovebirds. Abdul Wahab
of the Bengaluru-based Wet Pets, breeds a variety of exotic birds. He  says, “Lovebirds are the world’s favourite birds for keeping as pets. Exotic birds arrived in India years ago, brought in by the British, merchants and travellers, from places as far flung as the Amazon, Africa, South America and Australia. Since then they have been bred in captivity in India and have acclimatised to the weather here.” While Cockatoos and Zebra Finches are native to Australia, the Grey Parrot and Yellow Naped Parrot belong to the Amazon. The majestic Macaw comes from South America. “Cockatoos, Macaws and Grey Parrots make great companions, and if brought home as a chick, develops a great bond with the owner.” Sahil Ismail, of the Pune-based Creekwood Birds, has been breeding and keeping birds since the age of ten.
Today, Sahil is one of  the country’s best known aviculturists with a wide collection of exotic birds. “Keeping birds is relatively easy as they require dry food that comprises of fresh fruit and a mixture of seeds. It is important to constantly supply them with fresh water.” He adds, “In my experience, I’ve found that the African birds are comparatively fragile, while the South African ones are hardy.” Anna Verghese, who’s kept a number of birds as pets at home, comments, “Birds are certainly not as demanding as dogs or cats. They require their nails to be trimmed regularly — so that they don’t scratch us. Also, their feathers need to be clipped as they can’t survive in the wild.” Source: Deccan Chronicle, Open Images In New Browser To Find Its Source Of Sharing
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