TRAVELS OF WATERFOWL 



jects enable it to satisfy its innate requirements, thus demonstrating the 

 ability of the single bird to learn through its own experiences. An isolated 

 duck, however, is found only in the laboratory, for in the wild, waterfowl 

 are gregarious and highly social. From the beginning, in the society of the 

 brood, the duck lives in the companionship of other members of its kind, and 

 the actions of the individual are ever influenced by the behavior of the society. 

 Hence we must discuss learned behavior as it relates to the individual in 

 its social group. 



In their society the waterfowl do many things together. They feed to- 

 gether; and this is a more efficient way of life than isolated search by each 

 individual for its own separate food supply. They loaf together; and alert- 

 ness to danger is more efficient in a resting group than with the lone bird. 

 The society is functional. Companion-hunger is not merely the desire for 

 associates ; it is the urge to do things in companionship. We note, too, that 

 every waterfowl society is made up of lesser social groups, each bound 

 together by common behavior characteristics. On the May marsh, for in- 

 stance, we find the following social units : pairs in migration, resident pairs 

 on territory, prenuptial courting parties, hens with broods, stag parties of 

 molting males. Each bird, then, desires not only companionship; it seeks 

 special kinds of companions (Lorenz, 1935, 1937). Some of the social groups 

 so formed are exclusive societies, membership depending upon the individ- 

 ual's position in the reproductive cycle. Members of these different as- 

 semblages are most discriminating in their choice of companions. In May 

 a molting drake never joins a cluster of courting birds, nor do the sexually 

 active males team up with the molters. Nor do pairs join courting birds. 

 Each belongs to the clan of its own kind, not simply because it is the same 

 species, but because it behaves as its chosen companions behave. On a 

 sunny April afternoon one may distinguish at least three of these societies 

 and witness their complete isolation, although circumstances bring them 

 close together. Among the Canvasback on the bay there is an isolated pair, 

 no doubt local breeders. Feeding busily nearby are five pairs. Each hen 

 holds close to her drake, but it is obvious that all together make up a unit 

 band, probably pairs that are migrating together. Finally there are five 

 drakes and a hen together, the males alternately displaying and pursuing 

 the female, a prenuptial courting party. No group intrudes on the others, 

 nor is there intermingling of the societies. 



There must be some means of communication by which the social bond 

 is established and maintained. So with waterfowl there is a rudimentary 



20 



