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Bird Song Learning: Insights from Eavesdropping in Song Sparrows

This study explores how song sparrows learn their songs through social interaction and eavesdropping. Conducted by researchers including Phil Conroy and Lesley MacDonald, the experiment involved two phases of tutoring where young song sparrows were exposed to adult tutors both directly and via eavesdropping. Results suggest that eavesdropping enhances song learning, revealing that birds learn more songs when observing their neighbors. This research not only sheds light on avian learning mechanisms but also provides valuable insights for educational strategies and conservation efforts.

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Bird Song Learning: Insights from Eavesdropping in Song Sparrows

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  1. Bird Song Learning in an Eavesdropping Context -Phil Conroy, Lesley MacDonald, Val Schmidt, Kate Strangway

  2. Background • Beecher • His research: • Social interaction in bird song learning (2005) • The role of unshared song in singing interaction between neighboring song sparrows (2005) • Other papers for their research: • Peter Marler, 1970

  3. Previous research has led to two main hypotheses: • Direct interaction • Social eavesdropping

  4. Direct Interaction vs. Social eavesdropping…

  5. Method • 8 song sparrows (3-4 days post-hatch) • Tutoring began day 15 • 4 hours/day for 15 days • All daylight hours after for another 30 days • 2 Phases Figure 1 – Simple diagram of both Phase 1 & 2 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347207000516

  6. Method Cont’d • Phase 1: • Separated into two rooms • Exposed to two adult tutors • Rotated between rooms every 4 days • Began singing ~day 60 • 5 month hiatus of tutors • Kept in sound proof room

  7. Method Cont’d • Phase 2: • Tutoring resumed end of 5 months • Only used 2 of original 4 tutors • Half subjects had cloth between them and tutor for 1 day of 4 day cycle; day 2 in chamber but tutor was heard over loudspeaker • For other 2 days, heard nothing and as in original cage

  8. Figure 2 - Procedure of Phase 2 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347207000516

  9. Conclusions • Learn more from eavesdropping • Average 1.55-3.88 songs learned • Limited songs to learn

  10. Major Findings: What Can Be Done With This Knowledge? • Behavioral reasoning • Improving conservation efforts • Parallel to children

  11. Any Questions??

  12. References • Beecher, M. D. & Burt, J. M. 2004. The role of social interaction in bird song learning. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 224e228. • Beecher M. D., Burt J. M., O'Loghlen A. L., Templeton C. N., Campbell S. E. 2007 Bird song learning in an eavesdropping context. Animal Behaviour, 73,929–935. • Beecher, M. D. & Campbell, S. E. 2005. The role of unshared songs in singing interactions between neighbouring song sparrows. Animal Behaviour, 70, 1297e1304. • Marler, P. 1970a. Birdsong and speech development: could there be parallels? American Scientist, 58, 669e673. • http://theintrepidtourist.blogspot.ca/2011/05/africa-trip-40th-anniversary.html

  13. Our Questions For You • 1) If song learning in birds is a reasonable model for human learning what kind of implications might these results have on current methods of teaching in schools? • 2) The authors contemplate that males may eavesdrop to discover potential territory. What might be other reasons for developing the behaviour of eavesdropping? • 3) In what ways would it be beneficial for song sparrows to learn through eavesdropping compared to learning straight from a tutor? • 4) Were the results of the study what you expected? What are some possible negative’s to learning through eavesdropping? • Discussion Time!! • Separate into four groups

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