Many using the surname Geier share an oral history attributing its origins to a heroic band of peasant villagers who climbed high to an aerie and clubbed to death a gigantic raptor (a geier) which had been stealing and eating human babies from their village.
While I am enjoying the history, there’s a disappointing amount of bird clubbing. 🥺
It is interesting to see how the different birds reputations have changed through history though. Now, most of the raptors seem to be well loved, but that has not always been the case. There are still many parts of the world that treat them the way Medieval Europe did, so hopefully they will come around someday as well. I know I made a post here a few years back about how India was having extreme human health problems due to their near irradiation of their vulture population and people were getting sick from the remains lying around everywhere.
We have no shortage of bad human examples, certainly, but it’s not like we’re bumping into them left and right. How often do we not leave a review for something that functioned as intended vs when it doesn’t work? Sure, history books have some good examples of humanity, but it’s the real stinkers that get the most attention. I used to think it was so we didn’t repeat those mistakes, but that still sounds a bit, ambitious, let’s call it. Most of us range from boring to pretty darn good, but there’s always a few people we can’t seem to tell “no” to before they screw up monumentally.
You’re on to something Geier surname
While I am enjoying the history, there’s a disappointing amount of bird clubbing. 🥺
It is interesting to see how the different birds reputations have changed through history though. Now, most of the raptors seem to be well loved, but that has not always been the case. There are still many parts of the world that treat them the way Medieval Europe did, so hopefully they will come around someday as well. I know I made a post here a few years back about how India was having extreme human health problems due to their near irradiation of their vulture population and people were getting sick from the remains lying around everywhere.
Not my post, but a Smithsonian Magazine article about the problems in India.
Humans in general tend to be a disappointment.
Owls on the other hand…
We have no shortage of bad human examples, certainly, but it’s not like we’re bumping into them left and right. How often do we not leave a review for something that functioned as intended vs when it doesn’t work? Sure, history books have some good examples of humanity, but it’s the real stinkers that get the most attention. I used to think it was so we didn’t repeat those mistakes, but that still sounds a bit, ambitious, let’s call it. Most of us range from boring to pretty darn good, but there’s always a few people we can’t seem to tell “no” to before they screw up monumentally.