Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Authors: Victoria R. Franks, John G. Ewen, Mhairi McCready and Rose Thorogood Abstract Early independence from parents is a critical period where social information acquired vertically may become outdated, or conflict with new information. However, across natural populations, it is unclear if newly independent young […]
Published in: Animal Conservation Authors: Victoria R. Franks, Caitlin E. Andrews, John G. Ewen, Mhairi McCready, Kevin A. Parker and Rose Thorogood Abstract: Reintroductions, essential to many conservation programmes, disrupt both abiotic and social environments. Despite growing recognition that social connections in animals might alter survival (e.g. social transmission of foraging skills, or transmission of […]
Published in: Animal Behaviour Authors:Â Victoria R. Franks, John G. Ewen, Mhairi McCready, J. Marcus Rowcliffe, Donal Smith and Rose Thorogood Abstract: Animal sociality arises from the cumulative effects of both individual social decisions and environmental factors. While juveniles’ social interactions with parents prior to independence shape later life sociality, in most bird and mammal species […]
Published in: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Authors: Victoria R. Franks, Mhairi McCready, James L. Savage and Rose Thorogood Abstract: Many young birds die soon after fledging, as they lack the skills to ï¬nd food and avoid predation. Post-fledging parental care is assumed to assist acquisition of these vital skills. However, we still lack empirical examples […]
Older and wiser? Age differences in foraging and learning by an endangered passerine Published in: Behavioural Processes Authors: Victoria R. Franks & Rose Thorogood Abstract: Birds use cues when foraging to help relocate food resources, but natural environments provide many potential cues and choosing which to use may depend on previous experience. Young animals […]
Older and wiser? Age differences in foraging and learning by an endangered passerine Published in: Behavioural Processes Authors: Victoria R. Franks & Rose Thorogood Abstract: Birds use cues when foraging to help relocate food resources, but natural environments provide many potential cues and choosing which to use may depend on previous experience. Young animals […]
I’m a second year PhD student at the University of Cambridge and Zoological Society of London, researching hihi social behaviour in the population on Tiritiri Matangi Island. One of the most common questions I’m asked by visitors to the island is “what’s a researcher from the UK doing working with a bird on an island […]