Cikkszám: 1929
Book Description
Unlike any other book, Avian Cognition thoroughly examines avian intelligence, behavior, and individuality. Preferences, choices, motivation, and habits of species, flocks, and individual birds are discussed and compared. This book investigates who birds are and why they do what they do. Daily, seasonal, and play activities, creativity, reasoning abilities, problem-solving skills, social interaction, life stages, and communication patterns are described, and a distinction is made between vocalizations that are learned and those that are inherited. The behavior and intelligence of both wild and pet birds is compared, and unlike other books, entire chapters are devoted to a single species.
Table of Contents
What is Intelligence Anyway?
Definitions, Models, and Theories
Learning
Thought
Emotion
Consciousness
Behavior
Language, Culture, and Technology
Adaptation, Instinct, and Intuition
Heron
Background
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Discussion
Canada Geese
Background
Characteristics
Family Life and Daily Activities
Seasonal Behaviors
Individual Behaviors
Discussion
Mallard Duck
Background
Characteristics
Family Life and Daily Activities
Seasonal Behaviors
Individual Behaviors
Comparison of Mallard Duck and Canada Geese Behavior
Discussion
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Background
Characteristics
Family Life
Individual Behaviors
Discussion
Cardinal
Background
Characteristics
Family Life
Individual Behaviors
Discussion
Budgerigar
Background
Characteristics
Uzziel
Precious
Slate, Lilac, Sunflower, and Sky
Other Interesting, Surprising, and Amusing Behaviors
Discussion
Zebra Finches
Background
Characteristics
Adult Zebra Finch Behaviors
Development and Behavior of Zebra Finch Nestlings (0-3 months)
Discussion
Meyer’s Parrot and Red-Bellied Parrot
Background
Characteristics
Squeaky
Sydney
Discussion
Indian Ringneck Parakeet
Background
Characteristics
Maku
Snapdragon
Bluebell
Dusty
Discussion
Mitred Conure
Background
Characteristics
Rudy
Buster
Discussion
Avian Communication Patterns
Background
Mallard Duck Ice Medley, Disk 1 Track 1
Canada Geese Winter Song, Disk 1 Track 2
Canada Goslings, Disk 1 Track 3
Zebra Finch Phonics, Disk 1, Track 4
Indian Ringneck Parakeet Roundtable, Disk 2 Track 1
Meyer’s Parrot Beeps and Whistles, Disk 2 Track 2
Mitred Conure Chortling, Disk 2 Track 3
Budgerigar Morning Chorus, Disk 2 Track 4
Epilogue
Appendices
Glossary
Bibliography
Observation Locations and Populations
Budgerigars and Children: A Tribute to Perky
External factors to consider when giving a bird a medical exam
Author(s)
Biography
Debra Herrmann is a Principal Research Scientist with the Biological Computing Initiative. She leads interdisciplinary research that examines the parallels between avian intelligence, behavior, learning, reasoning, problem solving, and communication skills and computer intelligence, artificial intelligence, neural nets, computer heuristics, and other biological computing models found in nature.
Debra has been active in the federal and academic research communities in the Washington, D.C. area for the past 30 years. She has competed for and received research funding ranging from $50K to $4M for various projects, and because of her expertise, Debra has been asked to sit on panels evaluating research proposals submitted to the U.S. government for funding.
Debra led or participated in all the observational field studies reported in this book. She has participated in birding activities locally and on three continents (so far) over a span of 30 years. Debra teaches graduate, undergraduate, and professional short courses. She is a frequent guest speaker at annual conferences, monthly educational seminars, and informal committee meetings hosted by scholarly organizations and general membership societies. Avian Cognition is her fifth book. Her hope is that Avian Cognition will serve as a catalyst for increased public understanding of avian intelligence and behavior, better treatment of wild and pet birds worldwide, and more research in this area.
Reviews
"This is an engaging, well-written description of Herrmann’s observations and interpretation of the behavior of individual birds, both wild and companion...[and] offers insightful descriptions of behavior by an experienced, sensitive observer. This book is easy to read and copiously illustrated. It is a good gift for lovers of wild or companion birds."
— M. Gochfeld, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in CHOICE, October 2016 Vol. 54 No. 2
"More than 30 individual birds and 15 species from different countries around the world were studied over a 30 year period, resulting in an amazing amount of information. Both psittacines and non-psittacines are included within this valuable research work, which makes this book appealing to all those interested in ornithological issues whether psittacines or not.…
Avian Cognition examines all aspects of a bird’s life in an effort to help understand intelligence, behaviour and individuality. Therefore, everything about an individual bird or bird species is presented in the same chapter.…
The final chapter discusses avian communication patterns providing background information for the two audio CDs that come with the book.…The numerous colour photographs (over 150) illustrate, through short range shots, subtle nuances of behaviour….
If you are serious in learning about the intelligence, behaviour and individuality of birds, then this is an essential read. It will also help to reinforce the relationship you have with your own birds, whether companion or breeding.
This hardback…contains a vast amount of information, which bird keepers will find invaluable."
— John Catchpole, Parrots Magazine, November 2016
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