“Zugunruhe is a German term describing the restless, twitching urge migratory birds feel when caged — and the same primal restlessness humans feel when trapped.”
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Ah… so that's why I just quit my job. I've been working with these people in a few different roles over 17 years. I admire many of them, and can't really complain about much.
I'm not financially ready to retire yet, but I just couldn't stay.
I've absolutely gotten The Urge (TM) to quit about once a year for my entire career in corporate America. When I read this, it resonated so loudly.
The free bird doesn't sit at a desk for 9 hours a day.
German here. I just turned 50 and happily admit that I’ve never heard that word before in my life 😅
Same here 😉
Bird migration ecologist here. Can confirm that I have heard this word!
Same! I googled it and was like is this a word? Never heard it in my 52 years in this country 🤔
„Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.“
It‘s a great word, though! I guess, I’ll just start using it in non-bird-related situations.
Oh man, "Free birds don't pace" is an incredible statement by that researcher. That's going to stick with me.
Separately, I've always hated zoos even when I was a wee child, because the animals couldn't go do what their instincts shouted at them to do.
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