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IMAGE: A female (left) and male zebra finch. New U of A research shows that the birds prior experience raising chicks influences whether they stick with tried-and-true materials or try something. view more
Credit: Animal Cognition Research Group
When building a nest, previous experience raising chicks will influence the choices birds make, according to a new study by University of Alberta scientists.
The results show that birds that have successfully raised families stick with tried-and-true methods when building their nests, whereas less successful birds will try something new. We found that when presented with a choice between a familiar material, coconut fibre, and a never-before-encountered material, white string, zebra finches who had successfully raised chicks preferred to stick with the same material they had previously used. Birds who failed to raise chicks built nests with equal amounts of familiar and novel material, explained Andrés Camacho-A