neat piece but the statement:
Like human code-breakers intercepting secret messages, red-breasted
nuthatches have evolved ways to extract hidden information about
threats from predators from the seemingly indistinguishable alarm
calls of other species. It is the first time such subtle eavesdropping
has been observed in nature.
That just isn't right.
For those that have not been doing this themselves and doubt;
We had a guy here a couple years ago collecting different ground
squirrel calls for playback comparison to Prairie Dogs. The Prairie
Dogs have a complete vocabulary that defines the specific threat to
the group. We never did get a followup on the success of his work
though. Nuthatches hang with Chickadees all the time. It would be
more strange if they did not understand themselves as to why they do
that. I use both of their alarm calls in the field to keep track of
what is going on.
Off to the field.
Rich
--- In "Aaron Ximm" <>
wrote:
>
>
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11409-eavesdropping-nuthatches-act-on-chickadee-warnings.html
>
> --
>
> quietamerican.org
> oneminutevacation.org
>
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