Does the flicker frequency of fluorescent lighting affect the welfare of captive European starlings?
It is common practice for captive birds to be kept under fluorescent lighting, which typically flickers at either 100 Hz (UK) or 120 Hz (USA). Such lighting was developed for human vision and it is thought that birds may be able to detect higher frequencies of flicker than humans. For humans, 100 Hz fluorescent lighting […]
Cognitive and communicative abilities of Grey parrots
This paper presents results of almost 30 years of study of the cognitive and communicative activities of Greyparrots (Psittacus erithacus), conventionally regarded as mindless mimics. These studies have demonstrated that Greyparrots can solve various cognitive tasks and acquire and use English speech in ways that often resemble those of very young children. Examples include the […]
Pond Use by Captive African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in an Immersive Exhibit Adjacent to Human Bathers
Nonhuman animals in zoos are exposed to a continuous human presence, which affects their behaviors and welfare. However, little is known about what role the ?visitor effect? has on penguins in captivity. The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is an endangered species commonly housed in zoos worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether […]