

Problem solving skills may just not be evenly distributed in the bird world, so a larger flock raised the probability that one of its members was just better at experimenting with levers. Birds solved the problem better when the feeder was located closer to shelter, so the authors think that numbers provide a bit of safety and a greater probability of spotting predators.īut these factors only accounted for a portion of the total benefit from a flock the authors' statistical analysis suggests that there's a large benefit from having random individuals present. Some of this was a result of experience-the larger the flock, the greater the possibility that one of the birds had been in a flock that had obtained a meal in the past. presents Feathers and Flocks: Waterfowling in South Carolina, a collective look at the historic art and artifacts associated with local waterfowling. Consumers satisfied with Flock and Feathers most frequently mention customer service, shopping experience and good quality.Flock and Feathers ranks 22nd among T Shirts sites. Once the flock size went above about a dozen birds, the rate of problem solving shot way up. Flock and Feathers has a consumer rating of 3.78 stars from 822 reviews indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. The RFID reader ensured that the researchers knew how many and which birds were around when seeds were released.

They set up a feeding system next to an RFID reader that required the birds to consecutively pull two different levers in order to release a bunch of sunflower seeds. The researchers looked at an area outside of Oxford where all of the local great and blue tits have been banded with RFID systems. Now, researchers have found evidence that larger flocks of birds are better at tackling challenges in the wild. There have been some experiments that suggest other animals may benefit in a similar manner, but this work has generally been performed in an artificial environment. It is actually an old English proverb meaning people will sort themselves into communities of like-minded individuals. The saying noted above originally had nothing to do with birds or animals. As long as a group isn't too large, humans tend to solve problems faster and more efficiently as a group than as individuals. In his column this week Charlie Fineran refers to that old saying, Birds of a feather flock together. Humans get a lot of benefits from working and living in groups, one of which is better collective problem solving.
