CAMOUFLAGE NESTS A study by a research team at the University of St Andrews in Scotland has revealed that birds are very good at colour co-ordinating their nests, deliberately choosing materials of matching colours to their environment, hence camouflaging their nests to protect their young. The team studied materials used by zebra finches, in which species it is the male that builds the nest. The researchers wallpapered the enclosures of 21 finches in pastel colours (blue, pink or yellow) and then provided paper strips for nest building, one of which matched the colour of the wallpaper and one of which didn’t. Most of the finches chose the colour of nest building material that matched their environment, presumably to make their nests less conspicuous. Mismatched materials were also included in the nest, thought to be ‘disruptive camouflage’, which further helps muddle the visual outline of the nest. Interestingly, despite the research birds spending many generations in captivity with no exposure to predators, the urge to camouflage was still strong and is likely to be yet stronger in the wild. Here is Klaus, a member of Willows Pug Club, attempting to camouflage himself. If you have any photos of your pet in camouflage we would love to see them just post them here... willows.uk.net/news/m/news/view/427
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 09:54:26 +0000