Lucy Dacus Subway Takes episode has me staring at birds

Kareem Rahma's Subway Takes web series continues to provide thought-provoking perspectives, as evidenced by its latest episode featuring musician Lucy Dacus. During a boat interview on a boat off Rhode Island during Newport Folk Fest, Dacus shared her "hottest take": "Birds shouldn't walk." This resonated deeply with the reporter, who, as a Londoner, frequently apologizes to pigeons while commuting.

While Rahma disagreed, Dacus explained that getting out of birds' way is "so f*cking rude" and that they have the entire sidewalk to themselves.

The duo then discussed the nature of birds' legs, exploring whether they are real or merely small sticks. This led to an engaging conversation about the science behind bird locomotion and the evolution of their legs and feet. The Natural History Museum in London suggests that bird-walking styles can be traced back to dinosaur fossils. Birds that live in trees and hop around on branches have evolved legs and feet that are efficient for hopping, even when foraging on the ground.

New Zealand Geographic explains that the amount of energy a bird uses while flying varies depending on the type of bird, with aquatic birds potentially using less energy for swimming than flying. Academic studies indicate that the energy birds expend during flight is primarily influenced by changes in their mass and airspeed. While Dacus acknowledged the possibility that flying might expend more energy than walking, she firmly stood by her stance that birds shouldn't walk.

This sentiment resonated with the reporter, who agreed that birds should be allowed to fly instead of interrupting everyday life, including commutes.