Date:
September 23, 2019
Source:
University of Exeter
Diving seabirds watch each other to work
out when to dive, new research shows.
Scientists studied European shags and
found they were twice as likely to dive after seeing a fellow bird go
underwater.
The study is the first to investigate
why large groups (known as "rafts") of shags dive together at sea.
University of Exeter scientists filmed
the birds off the Isles of Scilly to examine their behaviour.
"Our results suggest these birds
aren't just reacting to underwater cues when deciding where and when to
dive," said Dr Julian Evans, who led the study as part of his PhD at the
University of Exeter.
"They respond to social cues by
watching their fellow birds and copying their behaviour.
"They're essentially using other
flock members as sources of information, helping them choose the best place to
find fish."
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