Birds who live next to family or friends are healthier

The lyrics to the much-loved soap, Neighbours, claim that ‘everybody needs good neighbours’ – and it seems that this may even apply to birds.

Scientists have found that birds who live next to family or friends are physically healthier and age more slowly.

The researchers hope their findings will provide exciting new information about how conflict over space and resources can be resolved in the animal kingdom.

 

Scientists have found that birds who live next to family or friends are physically healthier and age more slowly. Pictured is one of the Seychelles warblers studied by the scientists 

BIRD NEIGHBOURS 

Researchers studied a population of Seychelles warblers to test whether birds with more familiar neighbours had more peaceful territories and better health as a result.

They saw that the birds sometimes fought with their neighbours, but never with family members or neighbours they had known for a while.

The scientists then measured the birds’ body condition, and telomere length – sections of DNA that erode faster during times of stress or poor health.

Their analysis revealed that birds with more relatives or familiar neighbours in their neighbourhood were in better condition and showed less telomere loss.

But if new or unrelated neighbours moved into the neighbourhood, territory owners lost condition and suffered more telomere shortening.

These findings show just how important keeping good neighbours can be for birds.

Like humans, birds often ‘own’ a private piece of land that they defend against intruders.

And having good neighbours – in the form of family or friends – that respect this territory means less work and stress for owners.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia studied a population of Seychelles warblers – a small island bird endemic to the Seychelles islands – to test whether birds with more familiar neighbours had more peaceful territories and better health as a result.

They saw that birds sometimes fought with their neighbours, but never with family members or neighbours that they had known for a while.

The scientists then measured the birds’ body condition, and telomere length – sections of DNA that erode faster during times of stress or poor health.

Their analysis revealed that birds with more relatives or familiar neighbours in their neighbourhood were in better condition and showed less telomere loss.

But if new or unrelated neighbours moved into the neighbourhood, territory owners lost condition and suffered more telomere shortening.

These findings show just how important keeping good neighbours can be for birds.

Kat Bebbington, lead author of the study, said: ‘Defending territory boundaries is crucial if animals are to hold onto valuable food and other resources.

Like humans, birds often 'own' a private piece of land that they defend against intruders. And having good neighbours ¿ in the form of family or friends - that respect this territory means less work and stress for owners (stock image)

Like humans, birds often ‘own’ a private piece of land that they defend against intruders. And having good neighbours – in the form of family or friends – that respect this territory means less work and stress for owners (stock image)

AGELESS HEARING 

A study of barn owls found they have ‘ageless ears’, an evolutionary advantage that is absent in humans and other mammals. 

The birds’ ability to regenerate the ear’s cochlea is likely how they retain ‘ageless ears’.

The cochlea is a tiny, shell like structure in the inner ear that relays sound waves to the auditory nerve.

It contains sensory cells called hair cells and typically hearing loss is linked to damage to these cells.

This can happen as a result of an exceptionally loud noise or naturally through as a ageing.

If scientists can crack how the birds regenerate these cells, they could protect against or even reverse hearing loss.

‘Territory owners who are constantly fighting with neighbours are stressed and have little time to do other important things – such as finding food and producing offspring – and their health suffers as a result.

‘Interestingly, we show that it’s not just relatives that can be trusted, but also neighbours you get to know well over time.

‘Sometimes similar problems occurs in human neighbourhoods: if you’ve lived next to your neighbour for years, you are much more likely to trust each other and help each other out now and then.’

As wild animals are increasingly squeezed into small areas of natural habitat, understanding how relationships between neighbours affects health is crucial, according to the researchers.

The team hopes that the findings will provide exciting new information about how conflict over space and resources can be resolved. 

 

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