One big problem young animals face is finding food, particularly when they have little experience to help them. Even human teenagers can struggle when there’s no one else around to do the shopping, and for wild animals, making the best foraging decisions is even more crucial for their survival. Victoria Franks is investigating how juvenile birds overcome this challenge during her PhD. Read about her latest results here on age differences in learning strategies by adult and juvenile hihi.
Two papers in one week: how birds learn (and why it matters!)
Can video playback provide social information for foraging blue tits? Yes, but do they use it?
Unravelling the mystery of Shining (bronze) cuckoos' dark green eggs
Do mothers bias offspring sex ratios in carotenoid-rich environments?
Kirsty's first hihi paper accepted in Animal Behaviour!
Great work Kirsty - her first hihi paper has just been accepted for publication in Animal Behaviour.
Kirsty took advantage of data collected in the field over ten years ago, and combined this with our long-term breeding records for the Tiritiri Matangi population. Some hihi can live for around 10 years so this was perfectly timed!