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| How do chickadees communicate about the presence and absence of food? |
| Claire M. Jones, Brittany A. Coppinger, Robert L. Curry. Villanova University, Villanova, PA, United States |
Many social animals vocalize at food sources to recruit groupmates and maintain group cohesion, thereby gaining the benefits of group protection, but little research addresses how animals communicate about variability in food availability. Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) form winter foraging flocks and make complex, compositional recruitment calls at food sources. In a field experiment, we used motorized feeders, programmed to open and close at set times, to simulate temporally variable food sources. We recorded Carolina Chickadee vocalizations at these feeders and analyzed differences in note composition (of A, B, C, D, and E notes), pitch, and duration between calls made in open and closed feeder conditions. Chickadees used B, C, and E notes more frequently and A notes less frequently at open feeders where they could actively forage. Call rate and number of D notes per call did not differ, but D notes made at open feeders were lower in pitch and longer in duration than at closed feeders. This research lends insight into how chickadees communicate at food sources and maintain group cohesion while foraging, which could aid their winter survival. |