Bird Call Query (1 Viewer)

[George Garner]

Hi Everyone,
Our local group spent four days in the Breks birdwatching this week, while I won't bore you with a full report, one of the many magical moments was hearing a female Cuckoo bubbling, a sound I had never heard before.
Another one hence the title, we were watching a male Avocet baby minding, mum was still sitting presumably on eggs.
The quite adventurous baby was being continuously called to by dad, however when baby strayed a little to far, dad's call changed and baby came running back.
Now the question, I understand that baby birds can hear their parents call, while still in the egg, but surely it could never have heard a get yourself back here or else call.
So are they born with an innate knowledge, if not how is it learned
George

 

[Kits]

Very interesting question, George. Maybe the baby avocet had not come back when called before, and had been sent to bed with no supper, and had so learned that dad meant business when he made that call!

 

[Sue Wright]

Hi George,

Sounds like you've had another amazing time, that's what I'd refer to it as being on hearing that very distinctive bubbling that the female Cuckoos make. A beautiful call, song...whatever you call it. Not heard it this year, yet, but staying hopeful.

With regard to the Avocet chick, I'd always thought that all Birds and Wildlife are in tune to what each other are saying. Such as the Lapwing chicks that, on a slight call from the parent, will dive for cover away from mum/dad who is usually staying out where it's more open so it can keep an eye on any danger passing and give littluns the nod or call as to when its safe. I'm quite sure that at times just a motion is enough, depending on just how close any danger is perhaps.

It's amazing how the Fox contact barks differ when young go out on their own, the youngsters barks are so easy to know when they call to mum/dad. Quite different from the parents when they call to each other. I'm sure it's just all inherent from the very beginning George, another of those wonders of nature that we all marvel at. If they can build nests as they do without being shown, migrate as they do too, then nothing is beyond them and everything they see or hear is known to them instantly I'm quite sure.

I'm also quite sure that it's way past my bed time now!:eek!:

Sue.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

As you have all said birds and animals recognise what their parents are telling them and act accordingly immediately, maybr the government should put them on the payroll for the new parenting classes they keep talking about and we would get better behaved, more respectful youngsters, just a thought. :-O

Ann :egghead:

 

[Mabel]

Hi George,

I don't have much to add here but when I was at the Zoo two weeks ago, the Coots nesting beside the Flamingos done similar calls whenever the young disappeared. The young kept calling continuously, and the parent would respond when he/she saw the youngster wandering off. When the youngster heard it, it would swim right back.

 

[brianfm]

Just seen this George. Sounds like a good trip.

I don't know the answer to your question, but it has inspired me to read more about it.

I would think that response to calls is a learnt response in a way that Kits has, if jokingly, mentioned. I know that some birds of different species can take differing times to learn how to respond to the parents call. Also a bird that is reared by a bird of another species, at least in some cases, will learn how to respond to the surrogate parent.

Nature or nurture? A good discussion point. Yes I shall definately read up more on this one.

 

[chris3871]

Surely to some degree this kind of reaction is in-built. When an error can be fatal, trial and error doesn't seem such a good way to learn. Are human responses to laughter and crying learnt? I can't remember learning it at least...
What Sue is saying seems to make a lot of sense.

Anyway, good to hear the avocets are raising chicks, I hope all goes well for them.