I’m sorry, but since you posted this last week the phrase
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
has been ringing in my head with Swing cadence and Gene Krupa drum tattoo.
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
It’s a beautiful piece, Maja. Thank you for it--and the pointers to follow up this fascinating topic. For some reason it reminds me of research done in the...'60s?...on the behavior of passerine nestlings when researchers swooped a hawk silhouette above them. Swoop it "forward"--beak leading, tail following--and the nestlings would squish down small and secret. Swoop it "backward"--tail leading, beak following--and the nestlings wouldn't react at all, nor swooping it side to side. That's all I recall of the research, so I'm adding it to the list of stuff to look up the next rainy day.
Thank you, for your comment, Korpijarvi! Indeed, there is fascinating research done on this topic. Sounds logical, what you describe. If the birds reacted with fear response to anything that slightly resembles a predator, that would really give them a hard time. So it makes sense that they learn to distinguish actual threat from anything else.
But it's INBORN, Maja. That's what's...so gob-smackingly amazing. The ability to discern movement/shape comes with the whole BIRB package.
Lil guys have to fight their way out of their sea-rock into the air-world...and as soon as their eyes open, they know the difference between one and another movement of a hawkshape. Maybe some learn from mom's/dad's reactions...but the research I recall indicated it was already in them. The studied nestlings had no "social cues," but they knew.
I want to spend a couple hours seeing if I can find that cluster of studies...we're in the thick of landwork season in these parts, so it might take awhile. Thanks.
Yes, you're absolutely right. I shouldn't have written 'they learn to distinguish', that was not the right wording. What I meant was 'the species "learned" to distinguish', i.e., the birds EVOLVED to be able to recognize predators. And yes, that is inborn. Thanks for your comment!
Interesting findings, Maja. I wonder if the shrikes' behaviour on the dummy kestrels was caused by their own predatory instincts as a hunting bird. Interesting.
Thank you, Neil! Interesting thought. They could indeed be more likely to attack a predator rather than flee from it because of their own predatory nature. Since a certain aggression and boldness is needed for their hunting, they might make use of these inherent personality traits when defending their nests.
I love this science! Thank you, Maja.
I’m sorry, but since you posted this last week the phrase
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
has been ringing in my head with Swing cadence and Gene Krupa drum tattoo.
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
> kestrel plushie with a pigeon beak
It’s a beautiful piece, Maja. Thank you for it--and the pointers to follow up this fascinating topic. For some reason it reminds me of research done in the...'60s?...on the behavior of passerine nestlings when researchers swooped a hawk silhouette above them. Swoop it "forward"--beak leading, tail following--and the nestlings would squish down small and secret. Swoop it "backward"--tail leading, beak following--and the nestlings wouldn't react at all, nor swooping it side to side. That's all I recall of the research, so I'm adding it to the list of stuff to look up the next rainy day.
Thank you, for your comment, Korpijarvi! Indeed, there is fascinating research done on this topic. Sounds logical, what you describe. If the birds reacted with fear response to anything that slightly resembles a predator, that would really give them a hard time. So it makes sense that they learn to distinguish actual threat from anything else.
But it's INBORN, Maja. That's what's...so gob-smackingly amazing. The ability to discern movement/shape comes with the whole BIRB package.
Lil guys have to fight their way out of their sea-rock into the air-world...and as soon as their eyes open, they know the difference between one and another movement of a hawkshape. Maybe some learn from mom's/dad's reactions...but the research I recall indicated it was already in them. The studied nestlings had no "social cues," but they knew.
I want to spend a couple hours seeing if I can find that cluster of studies...we're in the thick of landwork season in these parts, so it might take awhile. Thanks.
Yes, you're absolutely right. I shouldn't have written 'they learn to distinguish', that was not the right wording. What I meant was 'the species "learned" to distinguish', i.e., the birds EVOLVED to be able to recognize predators. And yes, that is inborn. Thanks for your comment!
The ingenuity of scientists just blows me away sometimes. Creative thinking at its finest.
Agreed, Nate. These experiments are great. I’m excited about what they come up with in their follow-up studies!
Interesting findings, Maja. I wonder if the shrikes' behaviour on the dummy kestrels was caused by their own predatory instincts as a hunting bird. Interesting.
Thank you, Neil! Interesting thought. They could indeed be more likely to attack a predator rather than flee from it because of their own predatory nature. Since a certain aggression and boldness is needed for their hunting, they might make use of these inherent personality traits when defending their nests.