Catalyst link on Gouldian Head colours

[wilsta]

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2589683.htm

Interesting look at the ways colour redheads are dominant over others.

enjoy

[natamambo]

I had seen that article, or variations on it, before. I can't help but wonder how this is mirrored in practice in captivity though. perhaps some longer term breeders can help us out with their experience.

[Diane]

There are a few references to this here
http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... lyst#p7652
http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... yst#p31701
http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... t=catalyst
http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... t=catalyst
http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... t=catalyst

There is a link in there somewhere regarding a radio interview too, along with some members detailing their birds breeding patterns.

[GregH]

natamambo asked

I can't help but wonder how this is mirrored in practice in captivity though?

The conclusions are based entirely on captive gouldians! As a researcher I can assure you that matings in a wild population are so uncontrollable you'd never work out the "rules" with such a small population and trying to manipulate it - well the proposal wouldn't even get to the ethics committe before it was rejected because none of the witldlife authorities would allow you to interfere with such an endangered animal. While I'm sure Sarah Pryke et al and Mike Fidler have been over the data a million times I'd welcome someone replicating it.

[natamambo]

natamambo asked

I can't help but wonder how this is mirrored in practice in captivity though?

The conclusions are based entirely on captive gouldians! As a researcher I can assure your that matings in a wild population is so uncontrollable you'd never work out the "rules" with such a small population and trying to manipulate it - well the proposal wouldn't even get to the ethics committe before it was rejected because none of the witldlife authorities would allow you to interfere with such an endangered animal. While I'm sure Sarah Pryke et al and Mike Fidler have been over the data a million times I'd welcome someonme replicating it.

Greg, I too am a scientist, so I understand the study mechanisms and the fact that it was done on a captive sample. My question more was to breeders asking if that is also their experience or where there other factors at play in this particular study.

My point was not to question Sarah's (and Mike's) research but rather to ask is their sample representative of the experience of others. Even at the bottom of that Quantum article feedback agreeing and disagreeing is about equal. The bigger pool of anecdotal evidence we can get the more useful information we have.