This is Bert Note. I'm Nicole Jackson, an environmental educator and nature enthusiast.

I want to take a moment to appreciate some of our most overlooked neighbors, the urban birds.

You know, pigeons, geese, gulls, species that often get a bad rap among city dwellers, but these cosmopolitan birds are worthy of admiration too.

Pigeons, often called rats with wings, are actually remarkable navigators.

They were used to deliver crucial messages during wars.

Their resilience in bustling cities is a testament to their adaptability.

And what about gulls?

While they may seem pesky at beaches and parking lots,

gulls help control insect populations and scarf down food waste. Geese, though sometimes confrontational, are devoted parents

and help maintain green spaces by grazing on grass and weeds.

By thriving in urban areas, birds remind us that nature is adaptable.

Yet they still face many of the same environmental challenges as people do, like pollution and climate change.

So how can we show appreciation for our feathered friends? Start by respecting their space

and supporting local conservation efforts. Because they're not just birds. They're part of what

makes our cities vibrant. For Bird Note, I'm Nicole Jackson.