University of Tokyo

2024-03-25 @ 17.16.03 ∈ In English

Wild bird gestures ‘after you’: Japanese tit uses wing movements for gestural communication

By analyzing over 320 nest visitations in detail, the researchers saw that the wing-fluttering display prompted the mate who was being fluttered at to enter the nest box first, while the one who fluttered entered second, determining the order of nest entry and mirroring the "after you" gesture observed in human communication.

2023-08-18 @ 19.43.57 ∈ In English

Nauseous territory: Outfoxing predators using baits that make them ill

Over three sequential periods, untreated baits were laid, followed by levamisole-containing baits and untreated baits again. During the final period baits taken fell by 30%, indicating that foxes had consumed the levamisole-containing baits, fallen ill, and were reluctant to go back for seconds, despite the later absence of levamisole.