Dodo birds were unique bird that lived on an island off the coast of Madagascar more than 300 years ago. Here’s everything you need to know about dodo birds.
What is a Dodo Bird?
Dodo birds were simple creatures. They were tame birds with a large body and small wings. They were unable to fly, but they adapted by making their nests on the ground. They had large funny-looking beaks and their fat bodies make them a bit clumsy.
Dodo Birds and Their Home
Dodo birds once lives peacefully and uneventfully on a small oyster-shaped island called Mauritius. They were the only ones who lived on the island and that was a good thing because they were defenseless, by nature. They were built in such a way that they were unable to fly. They were fat birds that weighed roughly 50 pounds and they weren’t designed to get their bodies into the air. So they made their nests on the ground. This worked for them for many years because there was no one around to bother them. The island made a good home for the Dodo birds because it kept predators away.
The Destruction of Dodo Birds
Though no one really knows what happened to the Dodo birds that once lived alone on this island, there are theories about natural disaster and manmade disaster. Some believe that sailors found the island and once they did, the fate of the Dodo birds was sealed. The sailors were said to have brought pets like dogs and pigs that became a threat for the birds. The only defense the birds had was a strong beak (which could cause a good sting) but they were no match for these animals. Their eggs and nest were destroyed, and their species slowly dwindled. Furthermore, the sailors inhabited their forest, leaving them nowhere to go and no way to protect themselves.
Learning About Dodo Birds
There is no single skeleton of a Dodo bird that we can study. Few remains of the Dodo bird still exist today. Those that have been uncovered are just random body parts and are on display in a number of museums. We can tell a lot from these bones of the structure of the Dodo birds and how it would have been impossible for them to fly. Much of what we know about Dodo birds come from drawings and paintings left behind.
