R. E. Simmons

Bio: R. E. Simmons is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Haliaeetus vocifer. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 16 citations.

A critical review of cartwheeling flights of raptors

Abstract: Simmons, R.E. & Mendelsohn, J.M. 1993. A critical review of cartwheeling flights of raptors. Ostrich 64: 13–24. Aerial cartwheelin flights of raptors, particularly eagles, are spectacular interactions in which birds lock feet and fall earthward while cartwheeling about a common axis. This is traditionally seen as courtship behaviour, despite the fact that injuries and some fatalities have been reported. We solicited unpublished accounts from 20 raptor biologists world-wide and reviewed published evidence for the courtship interpretation among 39 species of large and small falconiforms. In 82% of 107 cases in which detailed observations were available whirling flights were aggressive interactions between territorial birds and intruders. Cartwheeling also occurs as play behaviour and as aggression during parent-offspring conflicts. Cartwheeling in Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer was confirmed as mainly intra-sexual aggression by T. Liversedge (pers.comm), who induced over 200 cartwheeling events in 5 years b...

A Comparative Analysis of Social Play in Birds

Abstract: Summary Although social play is broadly distributed among mammals, it is infrequently encountered in other vertebrate taxa. It is, however, displayed in a fully realized and complex form in several groups of birds. Unambiguous accounts of social play have been recorded from thirteen species of parrots, seven species of corvids, and several hornbills and Eurasian babblers. We conducted an analysis of the avian play literature, testing for differences between avian taxa, as well as for correlations between play complexity, brain size, and age of first reproduction. Corvids were far more likely to show social object play than parrots. Corvids, parrots, and hornbills had larger relative brain sizes than would be predicted from a class-level allometric regression, but brain size was not associated with the complexity of social play among genera within taxa. Play complexity within parrots and corvids was, however, significantly associated with the age of first re production. The likelihood of complex social play appears to increase when delayed reproduction is accompanied by persisting relationships between adults and post-fledging juveniles. The adaptive significance of social play in birds thus offers intriguing parallels to similar analyses in mammals.

Breeding behaviour and parental care in the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus on the island of Crete (Greece)

Abstract: A field study of the breeding behaviour of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) was conducted in Crete (Greece) during 1997–2000. The main behavioural patterns examined were aerial displays, nest defence, copulation, nest building, brooding and food provisioning to the chicks. The nesting territory consisted of a semicircle ca 5 m radius around the nest that was defended against conspecifics. Copulation attempts mainly occurred in the nesting ledge with a success rate of 77%. On average every pair accomplished 0.16 ± 0.34 copulations per day (range = 0–4) while 3.3% of the total attempts accounted for extra–pair copulations. Supplying material to the nest started 32 ± 9 days prior to egg laying (range = 17–44) at a rate of 5 ± 3.52 bouts/pair/day (range = 1–14).The mean number of items added to the eyrie was 2 ± 1.3/bout/pair (range = 1–8) with 63.5% of these being soft greenery.The mean frequency of relief at the nest relieves was 0.5 ± 0.64 bouts/pair/day (range = 0–2) while an incubation shift lasted on aver...

Social Play in Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) with Comparisons to Kea (Nestor notabilis)

Abstract: Social play in the kaka (Nestor meridionalis), a New Zealand parrot, is described and contrasted with that of its closest relative, the kea (Nestor notabilis), in one of the first comparative studies of social play in closely related birds. Most play action patterns were clearly homologous in these two species, though some contrasts in the form of specific play behaviors, such as kicking or biting, could be attributed to morphological differences. Social play in kakas is briefer, more predictable, and less sequentially diverse than that shown by keas. Kaka play also appears to be restricted to fledglings and juveniles, while the behavior is more broadly distributed among age groups in keas. Play initiation behaviors were relatively more frequent in kakas and more tightly intercorrelated in occurrence. A primary grouping of action patterns in kakas consisted of arboreal play, which was rare in keas. The most striking species difference was exhibited in social object play, which is pervasive among keas, but which was not observed in kakas. Although the two species are morphologically similar, they differ strikingly in several aspects of their ecology and social behavior, including the duration of the association between juveniles and adults, the degree of exploratory behavior, and the flexibility of their foraging strategies. The observed species differences in play behavior are discussed in relation to the contrasting life histories in the two species, suggesting that many features of social play may reflect evolutionary responses to particular ontogenetic and ecological constraints.

The breeding ecology and behaviour of a colour-marked population of Brown Falcons (Falco berigora)

Abstract: This study took advantage of a large, closely monitored colour-banded population of Brown Falcons to describe aspects of this species' breeding ecology and behaviour over three consecutive years. Both pair members aggressively defended territories throughout the year from conspecifics and other species alike. Males performed territorial displays more frequently than females, which rarely displayed unprompted. Strong differences in the types of parental care provided by each sex were evident, with females contributing most to incubation, brooding and feeding of nestlings and fledglings. Males, on the other hand, provided most of the food to both females and broods, from well before the first eggs were laid until nestlings were 2-3 weeks old. Prey deliveries were more frequent early in the morning and late in the evening; however, remains of larger prey were cached, presumably to provision the offspring more regularly throughout the day.

Social play in kakapo ( Strigops habroptilus ) with comparisons to kea ( Nestor notabilis ) and kaka ( Nestor meridionalis )

Abstract: The play behaviour of the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus; Aves: Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) is here compared to that of its closest relatives, the kea (Nestor notabilis) and the kaka (Nestor meridionalis). Contrasting kakapos, which are relatively solitary, with the more social Nestor parrots provides an attractive test of the relative contributions of phylogeny and sociality to the evolution of play. Overlapping cluster analysis of play sequences using a hypergeometric similarity metric indicated that kakapo play is generally less complex, lacking the intensity, duration, structure, and reciprocity of play in the Nestor parrots. Kakapos have a later age of first reproduction than the comparison species, but they lack the well-developed social interactions between post-fledging young and adults that are characteristic of keas and kakas. Social play in parrots appears to be most readily predicted from their patterns of social development, emerging within a constellation of behaviours associated with independent young that remain in the vicinity of adult groups.