Section 5 of 'Bird Sense' is about bird emotions. Amongst the rather dry and dusty information, interesting but a bit plodding to read though it is, there are some most interesting parts, such as: Australian Magpies have breeding groups, and every now and again the group gather, in a circle around a post, or a bush or something apparently, and sing together. One researcher likened it to a group of madrigal singers who join in and harmonise.
Another researcher observing for a PhD, saw a female gannet leave the nest. This female did not return for six weeks and,contrary to expectations, the male bird incubated and fed the chick successfully. When the female returned, and again the researcher was observing, the pair performed greeting behaviour and ceremonies for at least half-an-hour.
Anyway,. one question I'd like to ask: In a seabird colony like this, and similarly for Guillemots, where the birds return to the same site and nests every year, what happens to the chicks who when adult need to have nests of their own? Do such a group of youngsters gather together on a nearby ledge or something, or do they have to wait for the oldies to die?!
