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From: arf@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Jack Schmidling)
Newsgroups: rec.birds,sci.misc,sci.bio
Subject: HEAD JERKING OF WALKING BIRDS
Message-ID: <1990Jul25.021150.14574@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Date: 25 Jul 90 02:11:50 GMT
Reply-To: arf@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Jack Schmidling)
Organization: ddsw1.MCS.COM Contributor, Wheeling, IL
Lines: 39


 
              HEAD JERKING OF WALKING BIRDS
 
 
 I don't know what group this subject was recently discussed 
 in, so if I missed it, please let me know.
 
 There were a number of theories as to why walking birds move 
 their head forward and back in synch with footsteps.
 
 I don't even recall which one seemed most reasonable, but I 
 have another input that can only send everyone back to the 
 drawing board.
 
 I kidnapped a dove nestling and hand raised it for the 
 purpose of confusing the rec.bird newsgroup's indoor/outdoor
 business.
 
 Well, it has been most interesting.  The bird was released 
 several weeks ago and seems equally at home outside or 
 inside.  Some nights it sleeps outside, others on the back 
 porch.  Right now, as I type, it is sitting on my head.
 
 Not only does this bird jerk its head while walking, but it 
 jerks its head when I walk, with the bird sitting on my 
 finger.
 
 What is most interesting about this behavior is that he only 
 does it when looking in the direction that I am walking.  If 
 he faces me or the direction from which we are coming, his 
 head does not move.  I have held him out at arms length to 
 make sure it wasn't just my body, close to him, that was 
 filling his field of view.
 
 So, back to the drawing board?