1. 1st Critical Thought Experiment

2. Bird Communication: What is it, and how is it studied? Loma Pendergraft
Before I begin, I’d like to mention that John will cover bird vocalizations on a later date. He’s going to focus on what allows birds to communicate- the anatomy of their vocal cords, their brain structure, and the stages for how young birds learn to communicate

3. Why do Birds Communicate?
Let’s start with the basics: why do birds (or any animal really) communicate with one another? Edward Wilson defined communication as something that “occurs when the action or cue given by an organism alters the behavior of another organism in a way that increases its fitness”.

4. Why do Birds Communicate?
Benefits both sender and receiver
In other words, communication- true communication- benefits both the animal sending the signal and the animal receiving the signal. This male cardinal is advertising his status as a male in control of a territory. He is sending a signal. This female hears him from a good distance away and decides to come check him out She received his signal. The two meet, she decides to stay, and they raise a nest of offspring together. Win-win for both parties.

5. Why do Birds Communicate?
Benefits both sender and receiver
Benefits outweigh the costs
Now communication does have costs. Signals require energy to create, and they usually make the sender more conspicuous. This same cardinal can spend hours singing. That requires a significant amount of energy, and he could have spent that time foraging for food. Additionally, that singing makes him more conspicuous to predators. But ultimately, it’s worth the risk.

6. What is Communicated?
That’s why birds communicate. Let me now cover what they communicate

7. What is Communicated? Identity -> Who is sender?
Location -> Where is sender?
Context -> What is going on?
The signals used in communication can carry a lot of different information. Most forms of communication include information about the sender’s identity, location, and some sort of context. When you hear someone talking, you get the same information. Let me give some examples of context

8. Context -> What is going on?
Conflict
A signal can include information related to conflict, such as warning another to back down, or a cry for help from family or flock.

9. Context -> What is going on?
Conflict
Territory
A signal can include information related to territoriality, such as the identifying the sender as the owner of a territory, or advertising the territory’s boundaries

10. Context -> What is going on?
Conflict
Territory
Courtship
A signal can include information about courtship, such as the sender’s desire to mate, or strengthen pair bonds

11. Context -> What is going on?
Conflict
Territory
Courtship
Danger
A signal can include information about danger, such as identifying the predator type, or a call-to-arms to mob it.

12. Context -> What is going on?
Conflict
Territory
Courtship
Danger
Resources
A signal can include information about resources, such as food. Talk about honeyguide

13. How do Birds Communicate?
So we’ve covered why birds communicate, and what they can communicate. Let’s talk about how they communicate

14. How do Birds Communicate?
Visual Signals
Birds often use visual signals to communicate with one another. The most famous is probably the peacock feather display, which males use in court females. The white parakeet is communicating to the yellow parakeet. The context is self-explanatory The black grouse are involved with both courtship and conflict on the lek

15. How do Birds Communicate?
Visual Signals
Audio Signals
Calls
Songs
Birds also vocalize and use audio signals. These vocalizations can be broken down into calls and songs

16. Call vs Song Call Song Short, Simple
Might sound similar to other species
Innate
Longer, Complex
Unique for each species
Sometimes must be learned
Remind them that John will cover this in greater detail at a later time

17. Examples: American Robin Call
Ground predator

18. Examples: American Robin Call
Aerial predator. Go back and compare ground predator with aerial predator. Both calls fit their purpose. High pitched is difficult to locate

19. Examples: American Robin Song
Song

20. Examples: Song Sparrow Call
Ground predator

21. Examples: Song Sparrow Call
Aerial predator

22. Examples: Song Sparrow Song
song

23. Any Questions? Benefits of Communication Information Communicated
Calls vs Song