Some aspects of magpie (Pica hudsonia) learning

dc.contributor.authorLaValley, Dylan
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorBarrett, Louise
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-07T21:04:37Z
dc.date.available2024-08-07T21:04:37Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.description.abstractI 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.
dc.embargoNo
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6844
dc.language.isoen
dc.proquestyesYes
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychology
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectMagpie
dc.subjectPica hudsonia
dc.subjectCorvid population
dc.subjectFeeding apparatus
dc.subject.lcshDissertations, Academic
dc.titleSome aspects of magpie (Pica hudsonia) learning
dc.typeThesis
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