ABS 2023
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Using Models to Investigate Social Behaviour in Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica)
Jillian R. Taylor, Pierre-Paul Bitton. Department of Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University of Newfoundland , St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a colonial seabird that is socially and sexually monogamous, long-lived (~25 years), and exhibits strong breeding philopatry. Therefore, individuals will undoubtedly interact regularly with the same neighbours over the course of their life. Yet it is unknown how puffins recognize each other, familiar or new, within the colony or even those of neighbouring burrows. Recognition is useful for almost all social interactions and plays a vital role in communication, cooperation, and dominance hierarchy. To preliminarily assess how Atlantic puffins recognize one another we banded over 100 puffins on Great Island, one of four islands in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve off the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada. We presented banded birds with adult male and female taxidermy models as novel individuals. Behaviours to and around the models were video recorded. Female models were more likely to be approached than male models, but few close interactions were observed. This paper will present a more in-depth analysis of the observed behaviours as we discuss the implications for social behaviour and individual recognition for this iconic seabird.