Bad news for kids: Parents do not defend their offspring at all cost, bird study shows
Monday, November 24, 2014 - 17:30
in Psychology & Sociology
Do parents defend their offspring whenever necessary, and do self-sacrificing parents really exist? To answer this question, researchers examined defense behaviors of parent blue tits. They investigated whether birds would risk everything to protect their young from predators. Their conclusion: parents weigh the risks. It is not only the risk to the nestlings, but also their own risk that plays a role when defending their nests.