Social information use by a flock of pigeons in the context of vigilance and foraging as examined using a cutting-edge fine-scale behavior tracking system

• Applicant: Dr. Fumihiro Kano
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 545613900

The use of social information is crucial for the survival of animals living in groups. Current research on the use of social information by animals seeks not only to document the use of specific types of social information in certain species but also to investigate how this information is selectively transmitted within groups. A critical gap in current research is the understanding of the role of attention in the use of social information. This question should encompass not just physical distance but also factors like visual attention and environmental constraints, which play significant roles in how animals sense and transmit information to each other in their social networks. One research area that should benefit from recent technological and theoretical advances is the study of collective predator vigilance in birds. Although it is hypothesized that birds foraging as a flock benefit from social information by being collectively vigilant to predator cues, the precise mechanism of social information transfer within a flock remains unclear, largely due to technical limitations. The proposed study aims to leverage recent advancements in imaging techniques to explore the use of social information within a naturally foraging bird flock, with a focus on vigilance and foraging behaviors. We will track the fine-scale behaviors of birds, including their visual fields, in a large-scale motion-capture system that we have recently established. By tracking their head orientations, and consequently their visual fields, the proposed study aims to quantify how they look at both predatory and social cues (who is looking at what, whom, and when). It addresses pertinent questions about how this detection operates within a bird flock. These include exploring the mechanisms of social information transfer, such as quorum responses and behavioral cues, understanding the nature of the social network (whether based on proximity or sensory factors, and the impact of social relationships), and examining the effect of group size on enhanced detection and reduced vigilance. This proposed study should provide deeper insights into the mechanisms by which these animals collectively perceive and respond to critical environmental stimuli through their sensory network and social interaction.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants