These Birds Call For Backup

A new study performed by a graduate student from the University of Washington, has found that the call of a Chickadee is often used to call in other birds when it is threatened by a predator. Not only does the Chickadee's call signal other chickadees that it needs help, but other species of birds respond to it and often come to the chickadee's aid as well.

Templeton's research found that the chickadee's call changes depending on how big the predator is. It can use different variations of the call to bring different amounts of other birds. "You certainly might notice a change in the number of dee notes in their call if a neighbor's cats was around harassing them. With something really dangerous, such as a pygmy-owl perched near some chickadees in our aviary, we heard as many as 23 added dees," said Templeton. This story is starting to make me recall Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". The whole concept doesn't seem all that far-fetched to me now. Chris is a staff writer for latest ebusiness news.