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Birding Longcanggou, Sichuan again (but maybe for the last time)

10,000 Birds

Apparently , they use the presence of their own eggs as a cue for recognizing parasitic eggs – so without the presence of their own eggs as a template they fail to recognize a parasitic egg. Some individuals even rejected their own eggs when they were in the minority.

Eggs 172
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The Secret Perfume of Birds: Uncovering the Science of Avian Scent–A Book Review

10,000 Birds

One of Whittaker’s first experiments was to place other birds’ preen oil on the nests and eggs of Dark-eyed Juncos. The Juncos reacted to alien scents, even temporarily reducing the time spent on the nest.

Science 230