Years ago it was pointed out by somebody, probably Tinbergen or Lack or Wynn-Edwards or one of the other great bird-savvy ethologists of the day, that young Pelicans would blackmail their parents by biting their own wings, a very self defeating activity for a bird with a huge and powerful beak. \u201cIf you don\u2019t feed me right way, I\u2019m taking off this wing and your reproductive success is done!\u201d they seemed to be saying.<\/p>\n
More recently a study of Babblers in South Africa may have demonstrated a similar kind of extortion….<\/p>\n
Read the rest of my monthly contribution to 10,000 birds HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n The rest of my stuff at 10,000 Birds is HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Years ago it was pointed out by somebody, probably Tinbergen or Lack or Wynn-Edwards or one of the other great bird-savvy ethologists of the day, that young Pelicans would blackmail their parents by biting their own wings, a very self defeating activity for a bird with a huge and powerful beak. \u201cIf you don\u2019t feed … Continue reading Feed me or I’ll die, and possibly take you with me!<\/span>