Pelicans that choose their own friendships (that is, their groups) are more likely to breed successfully. This is the conclusion reached by new research developed by the University of Exeter, Sparsholt University and Reaseheath University (UK).
The study, which has analyzed the behavior of white pelicans in captivity, concluded that offering birds social options and allowing groups to form improves reproductive success. In addition, the study revealed that pelicans prefer to interact with specific individuals, and that there is a social structure in the flock in which sub-adults (that is, the equivalent of adolescents in humans) spend more time with each other than with females. adult birds.
On the other hand, pelicans that live in zoos tend to reproduce less frequently. Also, unlike other more popular birds, such as penguins, they receive very little attention, so they are practically not investigated.
For this reason, the team of researchers decided to collect data from the Blackpool Zoo on the behavior, space use and grouping preferences of these birds around nesting events. Thus, according to the lead author of the research, Paul Rose, understanding the use of space and the behavior of pelicans is essential for them to behave in the same way as they would in captivity and therefore have good animal welfare. .
Reproduction of white pelicans
According to the researchers, the study allows identifying the strong links between these birds and discovering which are the leaders in a flock. In addition, thanks to this information, scientists can determine which birds are going to start breeding and in which ones it is necessary to encourage such activity.
The team of researchers also found specific behavioral cues that could tell pelican keepers when breeding is likely to occur. For example, data collected before pelicans began nesting reflected that the flock was more alert during that time, which could suggest that surveillance is a precursor to courtship or nesting activity.
