Tag

African Bird

All articles tagged with #african bird

nature1 year ago•2 min saved

"Meet the Human-Sized African Bird That Devours Baby Crocodiles and Slaughters Its Siblings"

The shoebill, a human-sized African bird, is a formidable ambush predator with a sharp-edged, 1-foot-long bill and a penchant for feasting on fish, reptiles, and even baby crocodiles. Despite being mostly solitary, breeding pairs are monogamous and lay up to three eggs, although only one usually survives to adulthood due to sibling rivalry, with the first-born often out-competing or killing its siblings. The shoebill, listed as vulnerable, is the only member of the Balaeniceps genus and faces a declining population with just 5,000 to 8,000 birds left.

via Livescience.com|

#african-bird #conservation #nature

wildlife2 years ago•5 min saved

"The Secret Language of African Birds: How to Find Honey with a Single Call"

The Greater Honeyguide, a wild African bird, has a unique cooperative relationship with human honey foragers. Researchers have discovered that the birds learn to respond to specific whistles and calls made by the local foragers in Tanzania and Mozambique. The birds are more likely to appear and lead the foragers to honey when they hear the familiar calls of their usual human partners. This human-animal communication benefits both parties, with the birds providing valuable knowledge about honey locations, and the foragers sharing their skills in accessing the honey. The birds' ability to respond to culturally-specific cues is remarkable, as they do not come from a group of birds known for vocal learning. The learning process for the birds is still unclear, but it is possible that younger birds observe and imitate the behavior of older birds.

via Wisconsin Public Radio|

#african-bird #cultural-learning #greater-honeyguide

science2 years ago•6 min saved

"African Honeyguide Birds Master Human Calls for Partnership"

A new study published in the journal Science reveals that the Greater Honeyguide, a wild African bird, has the ability to learn and respond to the distinct whistles and calls made by human honey foragers in different regions. The birds are more likely to appear and lead humans to honey when they hear the recordings of the calls made by their usual human partners. This unique cooperative relationship between humans and wild animals benefits both parties and may have existed for thousands of years. The study suggests that the birds learn these culturally-specific cues from their elders, similar to how human honey foragers learn from their communities.

via NPR|

#african-bird #cultural-learning #greater-honeyguide

wildlife2 years ago•5 min saved

"The Secret Language of African Birds: Unlocking the Path to Honey"

A new study published in the journal Science reveals that the Greater Honeyguide, a wild African bird, learns to respond to distinct whistles and calls made by human honey foragers in Tanzania and Mozambique. The birds are more likely to lead people to honey when they hear the familiar sounds made by their usual human partners. This cooperative relationship between humans and the honeyguide benefits both parties, with the birds providing knowledge of honey locations and the humans sharing their skills in accessing the honey. The study suggests that the birds learn these culturally-specific cues from observing their elders, highlighting the fascinating nature of human-animal communication.

via KPBS|

#african-bird #cultural-learning #honey-hunting

science-and-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

Bird's Water-Holding Feathers Inspire Innovative Bottle Design

The intricate feathers of the Namaqua sandgrouse, an African bird, have inspired a team of American researchers to develop innovative products such as water bottles that hold water to prevent annoying sloshing around, and netting which can collect and retain water from fog. The feathers of the desert-dwelling sandgrouse can soak up water like a sponge and keep it stored even while the bird is flying 40 mph. The study authors hope the new discovery could lead to bio-inspired creations and influence future engineering designs that require controlled absorption, secure retention, and the easy release of liquids.

via Good News Network|

#african-bird #bio-inspired-creations #sandgrouse