ANIMALS

Mummified Birds Transported Hundreds of Miles Alive Across the World’s Longest Mountain Range

Recent research has revealed an intriguing historical practice where traders transported parrots across the Andes Mountains over a thousand years ago. These vibrant birds were taken on a journey spanning over 300 miles, all the way from their native lands in the eastern Amazon to the dry regions of the Atamaca desert. The purpose behind this long-distance transportation was to trade their colorful feathers with consumers in the desert area. This fascinating discovery was made through the examination of six preserved bird species.

Image source: PNAS

The parrots were captured from their natural habitats while they were alive, and they were transported in cages attached to llamas. During the journey, they were fed corn to sustain them. The vendors would regularly pluck their colorful feathers, which held significant value in the societies of pre-Columbian South America. These valuable feathers were often kept in cases and were even buried with their owners as prized possessions.

The importance of bird feathers was well-known in South American societies before the Spanish invasion. However, the reasons behind mummifying the parrots have remained a mystery. Experts conducted research on a total of 27 samples, which included both complete and partially preserved specimens.

Image source: Pinterest

They utilized a device to remove the internal organs of the birds through their cloaca, the same opening through which their waste is expelled. Afterward, the birds were wrapped in cloth or bags. Researchers admit that they are uncertain about the reasons behind these practices.

The preserved birds, which were discovered to be around 900 years old, belonged to six different species: scarlet macaw, blue-and-yellow macaw, mealy amazon, yellow-crowned amazon, blue-fronted amazon, and mitered conure. By analyzing isotopes in their remains, scientists determined that these birds did not perish in the same region where they were born. This suggests that they were transported across the continent from the Amazon rainforest to the Atacama Desert, known as the driest place on Earth.

Image source: PNAS

Researchers speculate that ancient traders relied on llamas to transport the birds across the challenging Andes mountain range, which reaches heights of 10,000 feet. Despite llamas not being particularly strong for carrying heavy loads, traders somehow managed to use them to transport the birds across the mountains and the harsh desert to reach this oasis. This journey involved navigating vast plains, enduring cold weather, and overcoming difficult terrain, which surprises researchers given the llamas’ limitations.

Experts also suggest that the parrots were unable to cross the mountain range on their own. Furthermore, they believe that the treatment of these animals fell far short of today’s recognized standards for animal rights. Some birds were kept solely for their feathers, which were quickly plucked as soon as they reached a certain length.

Image source: PNAS

Researchers also discovered signs of parrots with trimmed claws and beaks, suggesting that they may have endured these conditions for extended periods. The majority of their remains date back to a period between 1100 and 1450 AD, spanning the transition from the Tiwanaku empire to the Inca empire.

The timeframe during which these mummified parrots were found coincided with a period of warfare, which surprisingly also saw significant commercial activity. Evidence of llama caravans on the move was discovered, indicating the transportation of goods. Most of the mummies were uncovered at Pica 8, an archaeological site located near a present-day trading center that serves as a hub for commerce.

Source: PNAS

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.