Re: Play

[Andrew Taylor <>]

On Sun, 19 Apr 1998, Susan Myers wrote:
> I saw a David Attenborough docco on Ground Hornbills in southern Africa
> where he claimed (or his scriptwriters did) that they are one of the only
> known bird species to play, either as immatures or adults.

"playing with twigs, leaves, feathers, pine cones, and other inanimate
objects has been reported for various species, including frigate birds,
gulls, terns, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, swifts, swallows, rooks,
ravens and other birds." [1]

I recommend Welty's book.  Its intended to be an undergraduate ornithology
text but much of it is of interest to a birdwatcher.

Andrew Taylor

[1] "Life of Birds", J.C. Welty, Saunders College Publishing, 1988.