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TIL the most abundant bird in the world is the Red-Billed Quelea, there is an estimated 1.2 billion in the world with flocks in the millions.

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awANM TIL Croissants originated in Austria, not in France. At least as early as the 13th century.
jNvJn TIL Winston Churchill is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the European Union. Churchill called for a "United States of Europe", organised democratically, to prevent future wars. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Council of Europe.
j6wKE TIL The Mongolian army that attacked Baghdad in 1258 (200-800k dead) included Chinese artillery specialists, Persian/Turkic auxiliaries, Franks from Antioch, Armenian/Georgian allies, and Christian Han Chinese generals. They also defeated the Assassins and killed their Grandmaster on the way there.
XEQA8 TIL denied any art materials, imprisoned artist Ibrahim el-Salahi would secretly tear bags into many pieces and sketch out ideas for huge paintings. He would also secretly sketch and bury small drawings into the sand to maintain his ideas.
vPB8j TIL that the Library of Alexandria was not destroyed in a single massive fire, rather it gradually declined over several centuries