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When most wild animals first encounter humans, they respond as they would to any predator—by running, swimming or flying away.
Over time, some species become more tolerant of humans' presence, but the extent to which they do is largely driven by the type of environment in which the animals live and by the animal's body size, according to a comprehensive new analysis.
Researchers led by Daniel Blumstein, a professor and chair of ecology and evolutionary biology in the UCLA College, analyzed 75 studies conducted over the past half-century of 212 animal species—mostly birds, but also mammals and lizards. The scientists estimated species' tolerance to human disturbance by comparing how far away from humans an animal would have to be before it fled—a statistic called "flight initiation distance."
The paper was published today in Nature Communications.
Among the findings:
- Birds in more heavily populated urban areas are much more tolerant of humans than birds in rural areas.
- Larger birds are more tolerant of humans than smaller birds.
Why Are Some Wild Animals More Tolerant to Human Interaction Than Others? No.
(Score: 4, Informative) by frojack on Wednesday November 18 2015, @07:24AM
Larger birds are more tolerant of humans than smaller birds.
This is exactly wrong. The smaller the bird the closer humans can get.
It all comes down to inertia, something birds understand very well. You can get 6 inches from a chickadee or a finch. A robin or similar sized bird won't let you get withing 6 feet. Geese will either fly away or attack when you get within 30 feet. The birds know just how long it takes them to escape and they seem to have a pretty good understanding of how fast something the size of a human can move.
A bigger bird will nest farther from a human than a smaller bird. Probably for the same reason.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:19AM
I think it's a big "it depends".
Plenty of people seem to have no problems getting close to wild penguins and other wild birds:
e.g. http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/468347339.jpg [mentalfloss.com]
https://thecrusoes.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/p5260533.jpg [wordpress.com]
And if it's about escaping 6 inches seems rather close even for a finch. I'd probably be able to kill/catch a small bird that was that close before it got away. Not that I would do such a thing of course (I've caught small birds before, but that's because they couldn't find their way out of a building).
I think it also depends on how the humans behave. If they don't appear to be a threat the birds will calm down a bit (their heart rate might still remain high compared to if the humans weren't around - as some research shows, but they won't just keep flying/running away).
After all I notice in some countries where stray animals are well treated the stray animals will approach humans to be petted etc. Whereas in other countries where stray animals are badly treated (used as target practice, boiling water thrown at them etc) most will stay well clear of humans.
As someone said (even if it wasn't Gandhi):
"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday November 18 2015, @06:57PM
Just an hour or so ago a large hawk landed in one of the trees out back. I got my camera and went outside, but it flew to a further perch. When I maneuvered around to get a clear shot with the camera, it flew off before I could focus. I've had that happen with them before, they are very shy of humans. Probably because some assholes shoot them on sight...
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Wednesday November 18 2015, @10:19PM
"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
We have factory farming conditions [themeatrix.com] and first responders trained in animal rescue [npr.org]. I'm honestly unsure about what that says in the aggregate about America.
(Score: 2) by N3Roaster on Wednesday November 18 2015, @09:19AM
Depends on the bird and probably also on the person. One morning several years ago I was wandering around lost in Amsterdam and some kind of giant bird was following me around for a while. Much larger than a goose, stayed about four feet behind me. Seriemas also tend to let me get very close, though I'm lead to understand that they're usually more suspicious of people than they are with me. Birds in the markets of Harar will also fly quite close if you toss some meat in the air for them to catch.
Typica - Free software for coffee roasting professionals. [typica.us]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 18 2015, @01:56PM
Chickadees are known to be fairly trusting, ones that frequent your yard can become used to you enough to eat seeds out of your hand if you don't make any sudden moves towards them.
I've also found Peacocks to be rather fearless and that is a big bird that can't get away from a human in a hurry.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 18 2015, @03:12PM
I think it may have been a vulture...
(Score: 2) by hankwang on Wednesday November 18 2015, @05:16PM
"in Amsterdam and some kind of giant bird was following me around for a while. Much larger than a goose, stayed about four feet behind me."
That would be a swan (but you would have recognized it) or a heron (much taller than a goose, but probably not heavier). Herons in Amsterdam have figured out that people throw food at them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_heron [wikipedia.org]
Large seagulls wouldn't walk behind you, but rather dive and snatch a sandwich from your hand...
Avantslash: SoylentNews for mobile [avantslash.org]
(Score: 2) by N3Roaster on Wednesday November 18 2015, @05:59PM
Thank you. Yes, this is what it was. Bird identification is not one of my strengths.
Typica - Free software for coffee roasting professionals. [typica.us]
(Score: 2, Informative) by alioth on Wednesday November 18 2015, @02:54PM
I don't think it's that simple, even. Certainly geese I've come into contact with generally ignore me when I'm far less than 30ft away. Swans for instance will let you practically brush past. Certain large birds don't flee because they know if you do anything threatening, they can ruin your day if it becomes necessary. I'm probably more afraid of geese than geese are of me :-)
I find small birds will flee when you get within 10 feet. Larger but not huge birds tend to be a bit more tolerant. Crows for example will come right up close and only move away if you make a sudden movement. (Crows will also apparently remember your face if you're nice to them or mean to them, and continue accordingly on their subsequent encounters with you). Seagulls are the boldest, they will actually steal food from people and don't give a damn.
(Score: 2) by hankwang on Wednesday November 18 2015, @06:29PM
"I'm probably more afraid of geese than geese are of me :-)"
When a goose or swan threatens you with those hissing sounds, offer them your index finger as if you hold a gun. When they bite, it doesn't hurt, but you can grab their beak with your thumb and middle finger and pull their head.
They really don't like that and will back off as fast as possible...
Avantslash: SoylentNews for mobile [avantslash.org]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:03PM
Yes, these birds with flat bills are all bluff and bluster. They can pinch a little but they are harmless. In fact, if you simply stand your ground or advance when they start their attacks they usually go away.
Hawks and Eagles will tear your hands to shreds. At the raptor center in my town, the handlers wear face shields and thick leather gloves up to their elbow.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by hankwang on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:39PM
OTOH, I wouldn't challenge a swan when I'm in the water.
Avantslash: SoylentNews for mobile [avantslash.org]
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:41PM
Geesee aren't *all* threat and bluster, but they aren't nearly as dangerous as they sometimes pretend. But there's a reason for the term "goosed". And there's also a reason that it was often the job of young girls to look after them.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by krishnoid on Wednesday November 18 2015, @10:21PM
Geese will either fly away or attack when you get within 30 feet. The birds know just how long it takes them to escape and they seem to have a pretty good understanding of how fast something the size of a human can move.
Unless it considers you a guest [youtu.be], I suppose.