Wealth Keeps Birds, Humans In Nest

animalbehavior.org
Posted by Jill Mateo
rom the dept.
Bird wealth is measured in food, not money, and researchers have discovered that berry-rich bluebird young with edible inheritances prefer to stay in the nest.

Since humans and many other animals also often stay close to home when the pickings are good, the discovery supports the theory that wealth can promote family stability and togetherness.The study, which will be published later this year in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, focused on Western bluebirds, Sialia mexicana, which live in California.While bluebird daughters usually flew away from home at the expected time in August, bluebird sons stayed with their parents all the way through winter when desired mistletoe berries were plentiful.