Comments on: Solitary birds gather for noisy ‘funerals’ http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/ Research news from leading universities Sat, 18 May 2013 09:36:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Taz http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-236602 Taz Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:32:28 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-236602 From what I have observed, the jays will shriek to alert other jays to danger. It depends on the call. They know the difference between wood and a dead bird. Even though they obviously are on the selfish side, when it comes to a threat that will cause death, they are smart enough to figure it would make sense for everyone (other jays) to know about it. Grieving that I have seen is limited to the immediate family. The owl represents another threat. Jays defer to certain other birds, although almost always not to anyone smaller. The stuffed jay bird looks like a competitor, but is suspicious because of the lack of interaction. Jays also shriek, although perhaps not at the danger level, to see if anyone else is around. If no other jay shows up, then the secret peanut stash will not be revealed and it will be safe to go pick up some food for the bird pantry. That's my take on it. When I call my jays with an iiwi bird whistle, they show up and like to take peanuts out of my hand, and to stare at me. If I don't wake up early enough per their schedule to feed them, they get annoyed and try to wake me up. And no, they do not come in the house or any such whatnot. From what I have observed, the jays will shriek to alert other jays to danger. It depends on the call. They know the difference between wood and a dead bird. Even though they obviously are on the selfish side, when it comes to a threat that will cause death, they are smart enough to figure it would make sense for everyone (other jays) to know about it. Grieving that I have seen is limited to the immediate family. The owl represents another threat. Jays defer to certain other birds, although almost always not to anyone smaller. The stuffed jay bird looks like a competitor, but is suspicious because of the lack of interaction.

Jays also shriek, although perhaps not at the danger level, to see if anyone else is around. If no other jay shows up, then the secret peanut stash will not be revealed and it will be safe to go pick up some food for the bird pantry.

That’s my take on it. When I call my jays with an iiwi bird whistle, they show up and like to take peanuts out of my hand, and to stare at me. If I don’t wake up early enough per their schedule to feed them, they get annoyed and try to wake me up. And no, they do not come in the house or any such whatnot.

]]> By: Hgk http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125662 Hgk Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:06:07 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125662 Was the feeder frequented as often thereafter? Maybe an alarm over possibly tainted food. Was the feeder frequented as often thereafter? Maybe an alarm over possibly tainted food.

]]> By: RSS Feeder http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125302 RSS Feeder Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:54:38 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125302 When I played the above video at home, my pet bird immediately began to imitate the sound of a smoke alarm during the segment that the Blue Jays were responding to the sight of the dead jay next to the feeder. My bird makes the smoke alarm noise only when there is real and serious trouble around the house. He has also responded similarly when I have been forgetful with the stove on, often responding before an actual real smoke alarm goes off. The Blue Jays could be responding by making a distress call. Their hyperactivity and group interactivity is more consistent with socialized warning calls than with grief; however, they could all be grieving together and their sound may be universal among other bird species, as my bird also reacted appropriately to their sounds heard through the video. When I played the above video at home, my pet bird immediately began to imitate the sound of a smoke alarm during the segment that the Blue Jays were responding to the sight of the dead jay next to the feeder. My bird makes the smoke alarm noise only when there is real and serious trouble around the house. He has also responded similarly when I have been forgetful with the stove on, often responding before an actual real smoke alarm goes off. The Blue Jays could be responding by making a distress call. Their hyperactivity and group interactivity is more consistent with socialized warning calls than with grief; however, they could all be grieving together and their sound may be universal among other bird species, as my bird also reacted appropriately to their sounds heard through the video.

]]> By: Laura http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125292 Laura Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:46:53 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125292 I have observed California Mountain Quail acting very distressed after a snake had robbed it's nest of eggs. The quail hunched low and spread her wings and made a repetitive low hoots. I have observed California Mountain Quail acting very distressed after a snake had robbed it’s nest of eggs. The quail hunched low and spread her wings and made a repetitive low hoots.

]]> By: R. M. Kinder http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125282 R. M. Kinder Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:46:21 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125282 I haven't observed the intense kind of behavior described in the article or in the comments, but I'm pleased to read then since my observation of animals in general supports my belief that they share many of our emotions--affection, grief, fear, humor. And reading Temple Grandin's work has cemented my belief. I have been attacked and watched closely as I tried to follow and rescue a wounded baby bird fighting a cat. Birds of another species were attacking the cat. I don't feel superior to any of the creatures. I sympathize with their struggles, too. I haven’t observed the intense kind of behavior described in the article or in the comments, but I’m pleased to read then since my observation of animals in general supports my belief that they share many of our emotions–affection, grief, fear, humor. And reading Temple Grandin’s work has cemented my belief. I have been attacked and watched closely as I tried to follow and rescue a wounded baby bird fighting a cat. Birds of another species were attacking the cat. I don’t feel superior to any of the creatures. I sympathize with their struggles, too.

]]> By: Richard Borkovetz http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125252 Richard Borkovetz Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:30:18 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125252 In our neighborhood in Albuquerque, NM, we had a family of roadrunners - apparently a mated pair and their yearling. We saw them frequently and often together. One day, I heard some strange noises. I found the male lying dead and his mate standing over the body with her head craned back and beak wide open, pointing skyward. The sound she made was not like any of the usual calls. It was a rasping sound with rapid breathing. The female would retreat and then return; going back to the body and repeating this display over and over. The youth repeated the same behavior, staying back when the female was at the body. The effect seemed to be one of mourning. It may be anthropomorphizing to some extent, but I could not interpret this behavior in any other way. It just seemed to be mourning. Later, when the behavior seemed to have abated, I buried the dead male near to where he had died. We don't know the cause of death. In our neighborhood in Albuquerque, NM, we had a family of roadrunners – apparently a mated pair and their yearling. We saw them frequently and often together. One day, I heard some strange noises. I found the male lying dead and his mate standing over the body with her head craned back and beak wide open, pointing skyward. The sound she made
was not like any of the usual calls. It was a rasping sound with rapid breathing. The female would retreat and then return; going back to the body and repeating this display over and over. The youth repeated the same behavior, staying back when the female was at the body. The effect seemed to be one of mourning. It may be anthropomorphizing to some extent, but I could not interpret this behavior in any other way. It just seemed to be mourning. Later, when the behavior seemed to have abated, I buried the dead male near to where he had died. We don’t know the cause of death.

]]> By: Yemil http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125242 Yemil Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:19:49 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125242 I once witnessed a really obviously distressed crow in a tree watching a dying crow on the ground.It's beak had been broken off at some point probably by hitting an obstacle really hard.Nothing could be done for the bird as it was really close to expiring but the crow in the tree was beside itself and flapped it's wings and crowed incessantly as it watched the dying bird closely. Another time I came across a huge gathering of coyotes on a dirt road in a wilderness area.Two pups had been run over and killed by a vehicle a short time previously.There were about twelve adults continuously walking in small circles with their heads down.They too were obviously very distressed and they ignored me completely.I stopped my vehicle and watched them for some time mesmerized and chilled by their display of grief.This was the largest gathering of coyotes I had ever seen and I would guess it was an extended family.They seemed devastated by what had happened and I feel sure they were cognizant of what death really meant. I once witnessed a really obviously distressed crow in a tree watching a dying crow on the ground.It’s beak had been broken off at some point probably by hitting an obstacle really hard.Nothing could be done for the bird as it was really close to expiring but the crow in the tree was beside itself and flapped it’s wings and crowed incessantly as it watched the dying bird closely.
Another time I came across a huge gathering of coyotes on a dirt road in a wilderness area.Two pups had been run over and killed by a vehicle a short time previously.There were about twelve adults continuously walking in small circles with their heads down.They too were obviously very distressed and they ignored me completely.I stopped my vehicle and watched them for some time mesmerized and chilled by their display of grief.This was the largest gathering of coyotes I had ever seen and I would guess it was an extended family.They seemed devastated by what had happened and I feel sure they were cognizant of what death really meant.

]]> By: Susan D. http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/solitary-birds-gather-for-noisy-funerals/comment-page-1/#comment-125212 Susan D. Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:55:21 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=138462#comment-125212 Wondered if it could be to identify a missing mate or family member? Wondered if it could be to identify a missing mate or family member?

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