Variations in Finch Landing Gaits Christopher Altonji

1
Variations in Finch Landing GaitsChristopher
Altonji
2
Hypothesis

• The purpose of this research was to determine
  whether finches prefer hovering slightly before
  landing or flying straight in to a feeder.

3
Method

• -A bird feeder was set up approximately three
  meters off the ground in an area surrounded with
  trees.
• -The feeder was filled with a bird feed made
  specifically for finches in order to attract only
  finches to the feeder.
• - A video camera was set up in a window near the
  feeder and recorded the feeder mostly before noon
  and occasionally in the afternoon.
• - After each recording, the data was transferred
  to a computer for storage until the all evidence
  was collected.

4
Results

• -There was a total of 18 recorded landings that
  showed the birds did not change their gait and a
  total of 12 recorded landings that showed a hover
  before landing.
• -There was a total of nine no change in gait
  landings from below the feeder and no hovering
  landings.
• -There was a total of six no change in gait
  landings and a total of seven hovering landings
  from above the feeder.
• -There were only two recordings of a change in
  gait while there were five recordings of a hover
  before landing when finches flew directly at the
  feeder.

5
Landings Results
6
Landing Results
7
Discussion

• Birds landing from below the feeder only flew
  straight in because it would require too much
  effort to use the slow gait while climbing
  against gravity.
• When landing from above, the Finches choose their
  landing style based more on the speed at which
  they were flying at.
• This research agreed with the literature research
  because the literature stated that birds did not
  prefer any specific kind of landing pattern.

8
Conclusion

• The null hypothesis which stated there was no
  preference for Finches when landing was partially
  correct. The reason the null hypothesis was only
  partially correct is based on the data showing
  that Finches landing from below never hovered
  before attaching onto the feeder. In conclusion,
  there was no overall preference in landing style
  that Finches choose to use.