Ostriches do n’t have a reputation as the smartest of animals , for the most part due to their brains being about the size of it of a walnut . While they are n’t as stunned as their reputation implies , they have been observed on a regular basis doing something in captivity that does n’t help with the stereotype : assay to pair with human beings .
In the early 1990s , ostrich farmers noticed that their birds wouldconduct more wooing behaviorswhen humans were around . The male animate being would beat their wings out in a display , squat , and wave their neck around in their pairing dance , as if they were a flock hornier when their farmers were nearby .
scientist wondered what was going on , and conducted some integrated observations of animal at two UK farms – from nearby and from a distance – to see how their mating behavior differ . Their results were published in the journalBritish Poultry Science , and won anIg Nobel Prize .
" During near observations there was a importantly with child frequency of soliciting by females compared with removed reflection during both twelvemonth of observations , " the teamwrote in their study .
" The birds directed these courtship conduct towards the human observer adjacent to the perimeter although some female person did not appear to respond . "
At one farm , 68 pct of the birds displayed to humans .
" There was a in high spirits incidence of courtship presentation by ostrich to humans , thereby confirming casual observation that adult breeding Struthio camelus displayed to humanity , " the generator conclude . " The reflection that hiss on 2 farms show courtship behaviours , together with casual observations at other farm in Britain and in southerly Africa paint a picture that human - bring on courtship is a far-flung phenomenon . "
The team believed that mating show aimed at human being interfere with sexual union between the animate being . male may be making displays towards females of their own species on fewer occasion , result in the females refusing to squat for the Male ' sexual union endeavor .
Though the immense majority of ostriches were losing out on matte up chance due to this apparent drawing card to human farmers , there was one razzing that made the most of the situation .
