Male great bowerbirds (Chlamydera nuchalis) build intricate bowers – tunnels built from interlaced twigs. Ornaments like stones and shells are placed at the tunnel's end creating a "court". Females sit inside the tunnel, while males strut around the court attempting to woo them.You know, when a bird shits on your shoulder before you head into the club, here's betting you clean up.
By measuring the size and position of ornaments that were displayed on 33 different bower courts, Endler found that in all cases the males had carefully laid them out in order of increasing size. The objects gradually became bigger the further they were from the entrance to the bower.
Endler then reversed 15 bowerbird courts, placing larger objects close to the opening of the tunnel, but their owners would have none of it. After just three days, 14 bowerbirds – nearly half the study group – had returned their courts to the original design. Within two weeks all courts had been fixed.
This suggests order on the court is important to the males, says Endler. "Clearly, they didn't like it when I changed it around."
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cock Blocking for Science
Come on man:
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4 comments:
I think this is related to sports cars for fifty year olds, but I can't quite connect the stones.
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I was looking for a picture of this bowerbird, because he is a fat slob w/ too much hair & four eyes (Me: Less hair, it's still mostly blonde, & less poundage. But I can see it.) & last Weds. was the same place I was, where several people who didn't know me (It can happen.) confused us.
While looking, I came across this; the privacy aspect of the post is not un-interesting.
If the Foo shits, wear it!
Who is this big guy using my computer?
Mizzpelled: Chlamydia
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