Most bird owners would never dream their feathered friends are closely related to reptiles. In fact, the feathers of
birds actually evolved from the scales of reptiles. Scales protect reptile's skin as feathers do for a
bird's. Preening is work a bird does on its feather to maintain their beauty and function. Birds have two to
three thousand feathers. Each feather must be cleaned of dust and dirt, untangled, fluffed, lubricated and properly
placed in position every day.