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- Title
Comparative analysis of behavioural response of captive-reared and wild-trapped Northern Bobwhites to simulated predator attacks.
- Authors
Reyna, Kelly S.; Newman, William L.
- Abstract
Isolated populations of Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have declined causing many landowners to attempt population restoration by releasing captive-reared birds. These attempts have resulted in high mortality rates, which we hypothesised are caused by captive-reared birds exhibiting more naÏ ve predator avoidance behaviour than wild birds. Captive-reared and wild-trapped Northern Bobwhites were subjected to raptorial and terrestrial predator simulations and their responses were recorded on high definition video. We recorded the time to predator detection, time to anti-predator defence, and reaction type for comparative analysis. Captivereared birds detected simulated predators quicker than wild-trapped birds, but time to mount an anti-predator defence was not different between groups. The response type, however, was different between groups. Captivereared birds typically flushed when encountering a simulated predator; yet, wild-trapped birds did not flush at all, and typically ran or held when subjected to the simulated predators. We hypothesise that flushing is a naÏ ve anti-predator response that results in revealing of position in the presence of a threat, thereby increasing the individual risk of predation. These results potentially illuminate at least one reason why captive-reared Northern Bobwhite releases have been largely unsuccessful.
- Subjects
BOBWHITES; BIRDS of prey; CAPTIVE wild birds; NORTHERN bobwhite; FOWLING; BEHAVIOR
- Publication
Avian Biology Research, 2018, Vol 11, Issue 1, p16
- ISSN
1758-1559
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3184/175815617X15102246785440