Annabel Sher

I am an MBiol student investigating the influence of social context on individual personality in captive homing pigeons. Intraspecific differences in ‘boldness’ are commonly studied by assaying individuals in isolation, despite focal species living in social groups in their natural environment. Therefore, individual behaviour is determined in a non-ecological context, and the influence of group presence on individual personality remains poorly understood. The aim of my project is to investigate whether group size and group personality composition have an influence on individual ‘boldness’ in captive homing pigeons. I will assay neophobia and activity levels of focal pigeons, initially alone, then in groups of 3, 6 and 9, and lastly in ‘bold’ and ‘shy’ groups. I am hoping to develop a better understanding of how individual personality changes with social context – something relevant in natural populations when groups change due to mortality, immigration, and emigration. 

behaviour