title: Foraging on café sugar packets by the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): Learning mechanisms, distribution, and human perception

authors: Davy, Michael Ambrose

subjects: urban ecology

abstract: People in cities interact with house sparrows (Passer domesticus) on a daily basis. Sparrows have previously been observed foraging on sugar packets at a single café in Hamilton City, New Zealand. The aim of this thesis was to explore aspects of this novel foraging innovation by sparrows and to investigate people’s perceptions of sparrows being present at cafés. 

Sparrows’ preferences for different grain sizes of raw sugar and artificial sweetener were assessed at a single café, which demonstrated that sparrows have a strong preference for raw sugar over artificial sweetener, but no clear preference between granulated raw sugar and powdered raw sugar. Sparrows’ responses to novel sugar packet colours were also investigated at the same café. The sparrows did not start foraging on the novel-coloured sugar packets within 10 experimental sessions, but did interact with the novel sugar packets, which demonstrated neophilia in the sparrows and is an important step in the process of learning.

The distribution of sugar packet foraging by sparrows across 174 cafés in Hamilton City was determined, and staff from 15 cafés had observed sparrows taking sugar packets. A short survey was also used to assess the attitudes of café staff members towards the presence of sparrows at their cafés, which showed that café staff had mixed views on the local sparrows. A different survey was used to investigate the attitudes of 249 members of the general public towards sparrows being at cafés. These participants tended to like sparrows being present as part of their café experience. 

This thesis demonstrates the value of sparrows being present in the urban environment, and is the first study to comprehensively describe sugar packet foraging in sparrows: a fascinating behavioural innovation.

text: Foraging on café sugar packets by the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): Learning mechanisms, distribution, and human perception People in cities interact with house sparrows (Passer domesticus) on a daily basis. Sparrows have previously been observed foraging on sugar packets at a single café in Hamilton City, New Zealand. The aim of this thesis was to explore aspects of this novel foraging innovation by sparrows and to investigate people’s perceptions of sparrows being present at cafés. 

Sparrows’ preferences for different grain sizes of raw sugar and artificial sweetener were assessed at a single café, which demonstrated that sparrows have a strong preference for raw sugar over artificial sweetener, but no clear preference between granulated raw sugar and powdered raw sugar. Sparrows’ responses to novel sugar packet colours were also investigated at the same café. The sparrows did not start foraging on the novel-coloured sugar packets within 10 experimental sessions, but did interact with the novel sugar packets, which demonstrated neophilia in the sparrows and is an important step in the process of learning.

The distribution of sugar packet foraging by sparrows across 174 cafés in Hamilton City was determined, and staff from 15 cafés had observed sparrows taking sugar packets. A short survey was also used to assess the attitudes of café staff members towards the presence of sparrows at their cafés, which showed that café staff had mixed views on the local sparrows. A different survey was used to investigate the attitudes of 249 members of the general public towards sparrows being at cafés. These participants tended to like sparrows being present as part of their café experience. 

This thesis demonstrates the value of sparrows being present in the urban environment, and is the first study to comprehensively describe sugar packet foraging in sparrows: a fascinating behavioural innovation.

year: 2019

title: Migration and mental health: Evidence from a natural experiment

authors: Stillman, Steven

subjects: migration

abstract: People migrate to improve their well-being, whether through an expansion of economic and social opportunities or a reduction in persecution. Yet a large literature suggests that migration can be a very stressful process, with potentially negative impacts on mental health reducing the net benefits of migration. However, to truly understand the effect of migration on mental health one must compare the mental health of migrants to what their mental health would have been had they stayed in their home country. The existing literature is not able to do this and typically settles for comparing the mental health of migrants to that of natives in the destination country,which takes no account of any pre-existing differences between these groups. This paper overcomes the selection problems affecting previous studies of the effect of migration on mental health by examining a migrant lottery program. New Zealand allows a quota of Tongans to immigrate each year with a lottery used to choose amongst the excess number of applicants. A unique survey conducted by the authors in these two countries allows experimental estimates of the mental health effects of migration to be obtained by comparing the mental health of migrants who were successful applicants in the lottery to the mental health of those who applied to migrate under the quota, but whose names were not drawn in the lottery. Migration is found to lead to improvements in mental health, particularly for women and those with poor mental health in their home country.

text: Migration and mental health: Evidence from a natural experiment People migrate to improve their well-being, whether through an expansion of economic and social opportunities or a reduction in persecution. Yet a large literature suggests that migration can be a very stressful process, with potentially negative impacts on mental health reducing the net benefits of migration. However, to truly understand the effect of migration on mental health one must compare the mental health of migrants to what their mental health would have been had they stayed in their home country. The existing literature is not able to do this and typically settles for comparing the mental health of migrants to that of natives in the destination country,which takes no account of any pre-existing differences between these groups. This paper overcomes the selection problems affecting previous studies of the effect of migration on mental health by examining a migrant lottery program. New Zealand allows a quota of Tongans to immigrate each year with a lottery used to choose amongst the excess number of applicants. A unique survey conducted by the authors in these two countries allows experimental estimates of the mental health effects of migration to be obtained by comparing the mental health of migrants who were successful applicants in the lottery to the mental health of those who applied to migrate under the quota, but whose names were not drawn in the lottery. Migration is found to lead to improvements in mental health, particularly for women and those with poor mental health in their home country.

year: 2006-03

title: Maori preservice primary teachers’ responses to mathematics investigations

authors: Hāwera, Ngārewa

subjects: mathematics

abstract: There has been concern for some years about the low mathematics achievement of Maori students in New Zealand. This case study reports on the responses of 18 Maori preservice teachers to investigative approaches to learning mathematics during their compulsory Year 1 mathematics education course, as a possible aid towards helping improve the achievement level of Maori in mathematics.

text: Maori preservice primary teachers’ responses to mathematics investigations There has been concern for some years about the low mathematics achievement of Maori students in New Zealand. This case study reports on the responses of 18 Maori preservice teachers to investigative approaches to learning mathematics during their compulsory Year 1 mathematics education course, as a possible aid towards helping improve the achievement level of Maori in mathematics.

year: 2006