Birds that decide to migrate democratically
EXTER: Scientists have discovered that the youngest species of crows, called jack doses, use the democratic process to decide to leave their nests.
In the UK and parts of Europe, it is common for thousands of jack doses to suddenly leave their nests any winter morning.
In a recent study, researchers found that this species of crow begins to make noises when it wants to leave its home. Then when these sounds reach the extreme, it is a sign that the flock is ready to depart and the birds fly away.
Alex Thornton, a professor of cognitive evolution at the University of Exeter, said the information on how animals make their own decisions is rare.
He said that when one of these birds makes a sound, it is actually voting or signaling departure. The collective decision to leave is based on two things. The first is the volume of sound and the second is how fast the volume is increasing.
The researchers said that once the birds reached a consensus, the thousands of birds would fly through the trees in an average of five seconds and offer a spectacular view of Britain’s winter.
He added that when the sound level rises more rapidly, the gangs leave so quickly.
Professor Thornton said that in Norfolk, a group of 40,000 Jack Dozens was seen leaving together. Jack Dodge wants to leave the trees together because it protects them from predators and helps them exchange information.
