2024-11-19 13:04:00
Goffin‘s cockatoos also act according to the principle of “exertion avoidance” – in this specific case in the physical sense: behavioral biologists have shown in experiments that the birds literally intensively weigh up which of two identical-looking weights they prefer to carry. In the specialist magazine “Scientific Reports”, the team from Vienna and Oxford describes this behavior as a “sophisticated energy-saving strategy” that the animals use when walking and flying.
As part of their experiments, scientists from the Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine (Vetmed) Vienna presented the animals, who have already demonstrated their sense of pragmatics and logic in numerous experiments, with visually identical objects, for example in the form of dumbbells. Previous observations had already indicated that Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) may be better at distinguishing weights than some primates, according to a Vetmed release on Tuesday. This is all the more obvious since flying is an energy-intensive activity.
Extensive testing before wearing
It turned out that the birds tested very carefully which of the offered objects was lighter before they transported it over a course that had to be completed once by walking or once by flying. Afterwards, there was a reward – regardless of whether they lifted the lighter or heavier object, the researchers report. It turned out that the birds often picked up the objects and carried them for a while in order to detect even relatively small differences in weight of 30 percent before completing the course. The animals would make complex decisions here: “An interesting result of our study is that the birds pay attention to their weight during transport, but it didn’t matter to them whether they had to walk or fly,” Vetmed researcher Antonio Osuna-Mascaró is quoted as saying .
They showed no difference in preference if the weight distribution within the object was uneven or balanced. “While the weight of objects can be used to determine the nutritional content of nuts and seeds in natural populations, the weight distribution of objects has little nutritional relevance, so birds may not have evolved mechanisms to detect or counteract this cue,” said one of the study’s first authors, Celestine Adelmant from Oxford University. All in all, the cockatoos’ demonstrated preferences “fit well with the theory of optimal foraging,” says the head of the Vienna “Goffin Lab”, Alice Auersperg.
(S E R V I C E – Die Publikation online: Video about the experiments: https://go.apa.at/9IycVEH5)
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How does the behavior of “exertion avoidance” in Goffin’s cockatoos challenge previous assumptions about avian intelligence?
**Interview with Dr. Lena Schwartz, Behavioral Biologist at the Messerli Research Institute**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Schwartz! Your team’s research on Goffin’s cockatoos has gained significant attention. Can you summarize your findings for our readers?
**Dr. Schwartz:** Absolutely! Our study highlights how Goffin’s cockatoos exhibit a behavior we refer to as ”exertion avoidance.” Essentially, these birds are not just randomly choosing objects to carry; they are exhibiting a sophisticated energy-saving strategy when deciding which of two identical-looking weights to pick up.
**Interviewer:** That’s fascinating! How did you conduct these experiments?
**Dr. Schwartz:** We presented the cockatoos with visually identical dumbbells and observed their choices. The results suggested that they carefully weigh the effort required to carry each object, demonstrating a remarkable level of pragmatism and logic. Interestingly, our previous work indicates that these birds might even outperform some primates in their ability to differentiate weight.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite an assertion. What implications do your findings have for our understanding of animal cognition?
**Dr. Schwartz:** This research underscores the cognitive capabilities of Goffin’s cockatoos and challenges previous assumptions about avian intelligence. It suggests that these birds have an advanced understanding of their physical limitations and energy expenditure, which could change how we view bird behavior in the wild, especially since flying is energy-intensive.
**Interviewer:** So, what’s next for you and your research team?
**Dr. Schwartz:** We hope to further explore the cognitive processes behind this behavior and how it may vary among different species. The understanding of energy management in animals can provide insights not only into their survival strategies but also into the evolution of intelligence across species.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Schwartz! Your work certainly opens up many new avenues for understanding animal behavior.
**Dr. Schwartz:** Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time for research in this field.