Monday, 11 September 2023

Not So Different?

Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) are intelligent, gregarious members of the crow family. An Exeter University study looked at which pairs of birds would work together, to obtain mealworm rewards at a feeder (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/11/jackdaws-ditch-friends-to-gain-food-but-stick-with-family-study-finds). The study revealed that birds would readily switch 'friends' to maximise their rewards. They would, however, stick with 'family' (mates, offspring and siblings), even at the risk of going hungry. These birds, in this respect (kin selection), don't appear very different from we humans.
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