THE ORIENTATION OF PECKING IN VERY YOUNG MAGPIE GEESE ANSERANAS SEMIPALMATA

Abstract

SummaryThe goslings of the Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata make co‐ordinated pecks about 40 min. after hatching. The intensity of pecking is greater by day than by night and also increases with increasing age in unfed goslings. In a series of experiments goslings tended to orientate their pecks towards high, light, green and yellow objects rather than low, dark, blue or red ones, but did not discriminate between rough and smooth objects. It is suggested that these generalized orientation tendencies suffice to direct the goslings' pecks towards potential food, the seed heads of swamp plants. A more precise innate orientation, such as is found in some gull chicks, would not confer greater protection from predation than the shelter of the breeding swamp itself provides, and might prevent the goslings from exploiting some of the available food.