Some aspects of magpie (Pica hudsonia) learning

I reviewed a method and apparatus used to establish a research paradigm studying the free-ranging black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) that are local to Western Canada. Corvids, like the magpie, have a long history of being fruitful model species in psychological investigations, and their relative abundance in Lethbridge affords an opportunity to conduct meaningful research in a way that is minimally invasive, cost-effective, and logistically practical. Here, I discuss the exploratory investigation of the factors that relate to magpie engagement with custom, automated feeding apparatus, after considering initial oversights in theoretical rationale and logistical failures to implement theory-driven study design that incited the necessary shift in telos. Several results (including failures) provide fruitful insight into how to better implement future investigations with the custom apparatus. In reflection, this investigation has clearly demonstrated that our apparatus affords a minimally invasive way to study the local corvid populations (both magpies and the common crow) and provides relatively high experimental control compared to typical investigations of organisms in ecological valid settings.

Authors

• LaValley, Dylan
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Magpie
• Pica hudsonia
• Corvid population
• Feeding apparatus

Identifier

hdl:10133/6844

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/6844