Re: The DC Pacific Loon
Ellen Paul (epaul@dclink.com)
Tue, 02 Jun 1998 15:01:09 -0700
Leslie,
What Tri-state told you is true - they all do have innate song learning
abilities - just like humans have the innate ability to learn language.
But if humans aren't exposed to language during the critical period
(there have been a few cases reported in the literature, such as the
Wild Child of Avignon, and a compelling documentary on PBS last year
about such a child in the US), they rarely learn to speak, or if they
do, it is very limited.
There is a difference in learning between precocial and altricial
species, in terms of critical period. Precocial species imprint almost
immediately (think ducks and geese) whereas altricial species don't.
However, there is a LOT of research to suggest that the precocial
species are learning while in the egg, so it's really just that their
critical period is much earlier.
End of lecture! Let's go watch birds!
Ellen
mdosprey@ARI.Net wrote:
>
> Ellen Paul writes
> <That's the great thing about
> birds - you can just enjoy looking at them, rain or shine, heat or cold,
>
> in your backyard or someplace exotic, the first time or the millionth
> time...>
> Ellen, I`m with you all the way on that one. Thanks for the references
> re : Bird Songs. Folks @ Tri-State say some baby birds have innate song
> learning ability, other sp. ( they weren`t sure which ones ) had a
> critical period for learning. I`m having fun with it, at any rate, no
> fears that you discouraged me.
> Leslie Fisher
> North East Md
> Cecil Co
--
Ellen Paul Chevy Chase, Maryland Mailto:epaul@dclink.com