Post #13748

Why do ducklings walk in single file and chickens in a crowd? It would seem like an ordinary childish question from an ordinary observant child. But, like questions like “why is the sky blue?” and “why does the sun shine?”, it is more complicated than it seems at first glance. Both ducks and chickens are breeding birds. They are characterized by a long embryonic development, during which the mother needs to hang around on the eggs for weeks, risking her life and surviving on fat reserves. But it pays off: their chicks hatch sighted, covered in down, and able to walk immediately after birth. They are also born very hungry. Fortunately for brood birds, their offspring can feed on their own and the birds do not need to fly back and forth 10 times a day with a beak full of food. For a mother hen, for example, it’s enough to simply gather a flock of kids around her and go peck at the grain. By watching mom, the baby will quickly understand what can be eaten and what cannot. That's why the chicks crowd around their mother, watching her and repeating her movements. For ducks, the situation is more complicated, because they are waterfowl that feed on aquatic vegetation. The mother needs to deliver the offspring to the reservoir and this must be done as quickly as possible. Only it could be hundreds of meters or even kilometers away. In this case, delivering weak and vulnerable children becomes an extremely non-trivial task with only one correct solution. To get to a lake or pond, ducks line up in a chain. Ahead is a mother who, from the height of her experience, will be able to choose the best path possible. Next, along the chain, is the baby. They don't have to think or try. Just follow the tail of the one who walks ahead - and you will be happy. And the strategy does work, but it cannot protect against everything. Only about half of the ducklings survive to adulthood. After all, moving in single file doesn't keep foxes, ferrets, or disease away. Author: Yaroslav Ilyin 🏀 Hit the hoop and get an NFT gift — https://t.me/BasketbolX_bot