In literature, crows and ravens are a bad omen and are associated with
witches. Most people believe they steal, eat other birds' eggs and
reduce the populations of other birds. But a new study, which has
brought together over 326 interactions between corvids and their prey,
demonstrates that their notoriety is not entirely merited.
Lees meer: ScienceDaily
woensdag 25 februari 2015
Bad reputation of crows demystified
Species of bird 'paints' its own eggs with bacteria to protect embryo
Researchers from the University of Granada and the Higher Council of
Scientific Research (CSIC) have found that hoophoes cover their eggs
with a secretion produced by themselves, loaded with mutualistic
bacteria, which is then retained by a specialized structure in the
eggshell and which increases successful hatching. So far this sort of
behaviour has only been detected in this species of birds, and it is a
mechanism to protect their eggs from infections by pathogens.
Lees meer: ScienceDaily
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