Scientists made a sensational discovery about jackdaw behavior.
Researchers from the University of Exeter have found that jackdaws make noise before they organizedly fly to another location. The birds are voting in this way, reports Sky News.
Scientists recorded an increasing noise from the calls of jackdaws before a mass departure in Cornwall. By combining data with the results of tests in which pre-recorded jackdaw calls were played back, ornithologists found evidence that the calls are used to form a collective decision.
After roosting in a large group, each jackdaw has its own preferences regarding when they want to fly to a new location. This depends on factors such as the size of the bird and the level of hunger.
— said study author Alex Dibna.
According to him, the birds reach a consensus as joint flights have many advantages. There is much more protection from predators in flocks. Additionally, the birds share information — for example, about where to find food. When the calls of the jackdaws reach a peak, a mass takeoff occurs. The flock takes to the air almost instantly — on average in less than five seconds.
Jackdaws live in flocks consisting of hundreds or even thousands of birds. They usually take off suddenly at dawn.
