Doves & Hawks in the Gouldian Aviary

Share your favourite books and links here.
Post Reply
User avatar
GregH
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1671
Joined: 17 Feb 2009, 08:20
Location: Brisbane
Location: Chapel Hill, Brisbane Qld

Simon Griffiths and Sarah Pryke have their latest paper reviewed on the ABC Science site today. Titled Angry birds show too much war is bad, their thesis is that in game theory there is an optimum ratio of "hawks" trying to obtain a resource but then aren't able to excel at reproduction because they use so much of their time fighting off other "hawks" and then there are the "doves" which while they are the prey don't worry too much about the predation and get on with each other and breed. The review doesn't show the maths which I assume is shown tin the original paper but apparently the ideal ratio of hawks to doves is 30:70. What Simon & Sarah propose is that in Gouldians the aggressive red-heads may be great at securing nests sites from their competitors (other gouldians) but they spend so much time squabbling that they don't breed as well as the black-headed-types. This would explain why a dominant gene such as that for red-headedness having a simple Mendelian inheritance shows the red-head phenotype in the aviary at a ratio of 3:1 (Red:Black), yet in the wild reds only show up in at the very ratio predicted by the hawk-dove game theory. I think that they are onto something here but the maths looks a little too neat however that never stopped Gregor Mendal from being right either!
User avatar
firetail555
...............................
...............................
Posts: 181
Joined: 26 Oct 2012, 13:24
Location: Botanic ridge Vic

Thanks Gary. Interesting reading
User avatar
garyh
...............................
...............................
Posts: 805
Joined: 11 Sep 2011, 11:05
Location: Montrose, Victoria

I'm surprised these aggressive red headed gouldians haven't vent their anger at the hawks,very aggressive those red headed gouldians :lol: garyh
User avatar
firetail555
...............................
...............................
Posts: 181
Joined: 26 Oct 2012, 13:24
Location: Botanic ridge Vic

This came up on face book today too--
ABC NETWORK
Rangers record bigger than expected populations of rare gouldian finch

Aboriginal rangers have found several healthy populations of a rare bird species on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome.

The small, colourful gouldian finch is endemic to Australia but there are believed to be fewer than 3,000 left.

Conservation groups WWF and Environs Kimberley have been working with the Bardi Jawi rangers to document sightings of the finches in the One Arm Point area.

Head ranger Phillip McCarthy says they have found three healthy breeding populations so far, including one flock of more than 50 birds.

"They're on the endangered list, their habitat and fires have really caused them to decline," he said.

"Maybe cats are another problem for them up here but the populations we've seen up here are quite big and quite significant.

"It's very unusual to see them, normally we see 15 or 20, or a family of five.

"We've known they've been around and now we're seeing quite a few around."
User avatar
casehulsebosch
...............................
...............................
Posts: 552
Joined: 03 Feb 2011, 19:37
Location: new zealand

Pity ABC got their facts wrong.

No longer on the endangered list and now listed as "nearly endangered" This is in the main due to the efforts of Sarah Pryke and the Save the Gouldian Fund.

The main factor in drop of numbers is habitat destruction. These birds are hollow log breeders and need hollows in trees 80- 120 yrs old.

Cheers,

Case, Tauranga, New Zealand.
User avatar
Tiaris
...............................
...............................
Posts: 3517
Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
Location: Coffs Harbour

garyh wrote:I'm surprised these aggressive red headed gouldians haven't vent their anger at the hawks,very aggressive those red headed gouldians :lol: garyh
:clap: :roll:
User avatar
vettepilot_6
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 2826
Joined: 07 Aug 2011, 17:50
Location: Childers
Contact:

Quote "Red-headed Gouldian finches are good at competing for nests but not such good parents (Sarah Pryke )"

Don't know about wild ones, but didnt see any difference in numbers of young between red, black or yellows when I was breeding large numbers in early 80's...all in same aviary colony bred, picked their own mates etc...
The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long after the Sweetness of Cut Price is Forgotten
Post Reply

Return to “Books And Links”