Recruitment to food in black vultures: evidence for following from communal roosts

摘要: Abstract Experimental and observational evidence from a 5-year study of partially marked population black vultures, Coragyps atratus, suggests that individuals can find food by following others overnight roosting groups. Natural sources usually lasted long enough for recruitment to occur. Black vultures formed larger groups had enhanced second-day during winter, when their main source was least abundant. Successful foragers returned experimental on subsequent days generally preceded new arrivals. Arrivals at bait were clumped discovery second days, but incoming highly skewed towards early In general, adults arrived baited sites earlier than young juveniles. During natural roost departures, as likely depart the head departing rear, while concentrated in rear. Birds removed experimentally be naive about location followed reintroduced. Control (birds caught handled not restrained long) rear roost-departing groups, adults. Juveniles tended follow regardless recent experience. These results suggest attendance facilitates foraging vultures; these roosts probably function information centres.