Federal Pigeons Foraging and Vigilance Behavior

1006 Words3 Pages

Discussion:

Behavioural ecology investigates the interaction between ecology and the behaviour of an animal. An animal’s behaviour is the result of natural selection over past generations favoured by selection (Deag 1996). It was observed that Dusky Moorhen, Ibis and Pacific Black Ducks share both aquatic and grassland habitat in City’s Botanic Garden for their activities. Federal Pigeons’ behaviour was not observed by any groups due to reduce numbers in the Garden. Thus, discussion on Federal Pigeons on foraging and vigilance behaviour will be based on references from Table 2 and Table 3.

In Table 1, the observed behaviours of Dusky Moorhen, Ibis and Pacific Black Duck are grouped into five categories, namely resting, foraging, vigilance, mating and interactions respectively. Based on Table 4, similar behaviours in descending order of the amount of activity per unit time spent by Dusky Moorhen on land is as follow, Feeding (33.1%), Preen (26.9%), Rest (19.6%), Hunt Food (17.6%), Swim (2.2%), vocalizing (0.7%) and fighting (0%). With reference from Table 5,similar behaviours in descending order of the amount of activity per unit time spent by Dusky Moorhen in water is as follow, Feeding (35.2%), Swim (32.6%), Preen (15.2%), Rest (9.1%), Hunt Food (7.6%), Vocalizing (0.2%) and Fighting (0.13%). The listed behaviours for this activity are essential for animal survival (fitness) and reproduction in the ecology (Deag 1996).

Foraging behaviour, an element for fitness is observed in all studied species both on land and in water. The locations where the various species foraged are determined by the availability of food supply, Dusky Moorhen feeds in both water for aquatic plants and land for seeds, grasses and shrubs. Pacific Bl...

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...ould be to increase the sample size, prolonged observation time for collection of information to obtain a more meaningful variation of behaviour. As species behaviour response might differ in seasons, time of the day and temperature, observation could also be carried out at different environmental conditions to obtain more accurate variation of behaviour of each species.

Works Cited

1. Deag, J. M. (1996). "Behavioural ecology and the welfare of extensively farmed animals." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 49(1): 9-22.

2. Plowright, C., D. Church, et al. (2004). "Two Solitudes: The Behaviour of Pigeons in Competitive Feeding." Behaviour 141(4): 407-424.

3. Sol, D., D. Santos, et al. (1998). "Competition for food in urban pigeons: the cost of being juvenile." Condor: 298-304.

4. Waybill, S. (2007). Our Australian Feathered Friends, Lulu. com.

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