It is interesting on how we perceive the relationships of other species.
Could it be that those particular birds the Guide talks about, actually did
'die of a broken heart'. I've observed guinea pigs fret or grieve to death
at the lost of a partner. Humans have 'died of a broken heart' due to the
loss of another;while not all guinea pigs or humans do so and do move on to
find other partners. May be there could be a definite case of individuality
in all species.
Rob
On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM, Greg & Val Clancy <>
wrote:
> Hi Max,
>
> As tourists love to hear stories like the Radjah Shelduck one guides
> sometimes embellish the facts and I doubt that there is any truth to it. It
> may be true that some species of birds 'mate for life' but once one bird
> dies the other one usually finds another mate. That is not to say that a
> certain amount of 'grief' doesn't occur. I know as a scientist that I
> shouldn't be talking this way but science's ideas about bird's intelligence
> and emotions are changing as time proceeds.
> I have studied Ospreys and Black-necked (Satin) Storks and have found that
> both of these species, while apparently 'mating for life' do find new
> partners in the event of a partner's death. Divorce, although rare, also
> does occur.
> HANZAB states re. the Radjah Shelduck "sustained monogamous; pair bonds
> probably lifelong."
>
> Greg Clancy
>
>
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