The private lives of birds
Subtitle: a scientist reveals the intricacies of avian social life
By: Bridget Stutchbury
Publisher: Walker & Co.
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 249
ISBN-13: 9780802717467
Subjects: Birds; Behavior
Other titles: Scientist reveals the intricacies of avian social life
Description: Overview: Biologist Bridget Stutchbury takes readers along on her escapades as a bird detective, stalking subjects through the woods for hours, taking blood samples from nestlings for DNA analysis, and mounting miniature tracking devices on tiny backs. She captures several young white-and-brown male purple martins and paints them the darker color of mature males to see if the painted youngsters are more successful than their unaltered peers in wresting away nest sites from older males. They are! The Private Lives of Birds is a treasure trove of fascinating insights into bird behavior. But understanding the social lives of birds does much more than slake our curiosity. Aware that many birds will not occupy an area unless other birds are already there, biologists used mirrors and two-dimensional cutouts to lure Atlantic puffins to establish colonies off the coast of Maine, getting curious puffins to visit the site and linger long enough to encounter a live bird. As Stutchbury says, "Trying to save birds without understanding what makes them tick is a shot in the dark ... birds are highly social, and their social needs are at least as important as their physical needs."
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Philandering flycatchers: why females cheat on their mates --; title: Monogamy in a tropical paradise: timing is everything --; title: Finicky females: what makes males look attractive --; title: Avian operas: mate choice by ear --; title: Til death do us part: why birds divorce --; title: Your turn or mine?: how birds parent --; title: Empty nest: finding a first home --; title: Fight or flight: territory defence and aggression --; title: Bird cities: why birds live in groups --; title: Frequent fliers: the demands of migration --; title: Epilogue: Can birds change with the times? ---- Acknowledgments-- Sources-- Index.