#european starlings
Starving chicks become greedy birds
Baby starlings that have a rough start in life grow up to become fatter and greedier than their more fortunate siblings.
Scientists from Newcastle University discovered that stress and difficulties as a chick made a long lasting impression on a starling’s relationship with food.
Birds that struggled against larger brothers or sisters for food early on were keener on finding food and tended to over-eat as adults.
The scientists suspect that the birds with a tougher start were behaving as if they were worried food might run out, suggesting that they have a ‘memory of hunger’ from when they were small which drives them to overeat when food is freely available.
Images (top to bottom) Clare Andrews, Maggie.Smith,Jo Garbutt,Beverley Goodwin
Post link
