Skip to content

Nature

Chick attacks highlighted in study on the Nazca booby

by Dave Armstrong 05 Oct 2011
Chick attacks highlighted in study on the Nazca booby

Some birds give the Avian Class a bad name. While those cute little eagles or hissingly aggressive geese don't surprise us, this example of anthropomorphic behaviour could put the cat among the pigeons. Martina Muller and Professor Dave Anderson of Wake Forest University in North Carolina have bridged an ethology gap.

Nazca Boobies, related to other ocean travellers such as the famous wandering albatross, live in the Galapagos. Unfortunately, parents have to leave nestlings frequently to fish long-distance."It's fascinating that many would consider an extremely complex human phenomenon is also occurring - perhaps through the same physiological mechanism - in Nazca boobies, which are more closely related to crocodiles than mammals," quotes Prof. Anderson. He refers to a special kind of chick child abuse that his team have studied, that seems to have relevance to human psychology as much as bird behaviour (ethology).

A Nazca booby adult begins an unwelcome visit with an unguarded nestling. Most such visits include these aggressive bites by the adult to the nestling's head and neck.<strong>Credit:</strong> Jacquelyn Grace

A Nazca booby adult begins an unwelcome visit with an unguarded nestling. Most such visits include these aggressive bites by the adult to the nestling's head and neck. Credit: Jacquelyn Grace.

On the islands, such as this booby colony on Isla Espanola, there is an intense interest by certain adults in unrelated chicks, especially when its parents are necessarily absent for long periods. Female birds are most likely to search out, bully, bite, peck and jump on a chick's neck and head. This causes severe traumatic stress and bleeding and now seems to have caused those chicks to remember the events and, years later, become abusers themselves. Over three seasons, primary data was collected, then data gathering was repeated several years later.

The team checked out the individuals that had been abused in the original studies. The Wake Forest team, apart from Martina, who has now moved to Groeningen University in the Netherlands, is now intent on studying the physiological effects of the beatings. They have begun by discovering the major stress hormone, corticosterone, increases after abuse. Jacqueline Grace, leading the team, has already published on this research, but hopes to progress further.

The potential links between behaviour, psychology and the two physiologies could be intriguing. The cheeky thought occurs that many seabird colonies have similar events, and it may not be entirely necessary to concentrate on a lone species' distant colonies, where even the identifying leg bands are less common than say one of the more famous European colonies, Martina Muller! (Well, she has moved there!).

Top Image Credit: Nazca boobies in the Galapagos islands, Ecuador © Catherine Ames


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping