Ducks also know the division of labor

A sea duck knows how to deal with other children in the herd to divide responsibility for raising children. And like humans, the social system of this exotic duck sometimes breaks down.

A new study for the first time demonstrated the existence of co-operative phenomena, particularly in ducks. In it, the parents in a herd assign each other a scene and catch prey for young birds.

Eider sea ducks.(Photo: birdseen.co.uk)

In a post in the American Naturalist magazine, scientists at the University of Helsinki (Finland) said they tracked ducks working as mothers in a flock of ducks named Eider. They found that female ducks often lead their offspring to meet other mother ducks at a large yard. They exchange, bargain and even fight until the ducks are divided into groups of two, three or four.

"During the time before the group split, the mother ducks were looking for a suitable partner. After finding it, they would proceed to negotiate with each other to divide the task of raising and protecting ducklings," Markus said. Öst, the team leader, said.

Often, " alliance " can be broken after a few days if partners feel they no longer fit, experts said. If it is appropriate, parents will work together in keeping warm, feeding for their cubs and fighting predators.

"Aquatic birds are always thought to be not very smart, but we think they are experts in building complex, reliable relationships," said Öst.

Viet Linh