Close ties help wild jackdaws secure food

Having close companions can demand patience, yet it offers major survival perks during mealtimes. According to researchers from Exeter and Swansea universities, wild jackdaws gain significant protection at feeding spots when accompanied by dependable partners, even though standing by costs them precious time.

The findings, published in the biological journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, aimed to explain why animals with durable relationships frequently enjoy longer lifespans. Lead author Luca G. Hahn noted that while benefits are widely recognized across species, the day-to-day mechanisms behind these advantages have remained poorly understood.

To investigate the issue, the research crew spent two years observing wild corvids in Cornwall, England. Biologists fitted the creatures with colorful leg markers containing tiny electronic tracking chips. Whenever an individual approached an artificial dispenser, the automated hardware identified the visitor.

Queuing for meals

The experimental perches were engineered so that only a single diner could retrieve sustenance at once. Any secondary visitor had to pause in line behind the perch. This controlled arrangement enabled observers to record how pairs coordinated flights, maintained order, or pushed rivals away.

Data revealed that bonded units—especially mated pairs and close blood relatives—consistently arrived together far more often than unrelated birds. While one member consumed the available nourishment, the partner patiently stood guard rather than instigating conflict, sacrificing its own immediate foraging opportunity.

This mutual cooperation paid off. Individuals eating beside a bonded companion faced a significantly smaller hazard of eviction from competitive flock members. The team also noted that young birds shadowing their parents might gain valuable chances to master unfamiliar foraging equipment.

Looking ahead, the authors plan to investigate looser social ties within colonies. Hahn suggested future studies will test whether temporary acquaintances assist birds in finding scattered patches, or whether friendly alliances develop between neighboring nesting territories.