Birds Fly for Fun, Not Just Survival | Science News

Birds might actually love flying — not just for survival, but for pure joy. In a fascinating experiment with Galah Cockatoos, scientists gave them free choice to fly or stay, with no rewards or punishments. Almost every bird chose to soar — repeatedly, over months — suggesting flight is inherently rewarding. Even when they got new nesting boxes, the birds still flew, except when busy mating — another joyful activity. Surprisingly, their stress hormones didn’t drop after flying, likely because the physical effort masked any hormonal changes. This study reveals that flight is a natural drive for these birds, fueling a broader movement in animal welfare: creating spaces where animals can thrive by doing what makes them happy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/893db7914a6f7b47