Groups of Meerkats in the Kalahari Desert
A Drongo & Meerkat
Scientists have found that Drongos in the Kalahari
mimic the alarm calls of other species in order to
steal food,.
The birds "play tricks" on meerkats in particular, following
the little mammals around until they catch a meal.
The drongos then make fake alarm calls that mimic other
species and cause the meerkats to run for cover, allowing
the drongos to swoop in.
By mimicking other species, drongos keeps their deception
"believable".
"It's a nifty trick," said Tom Flower, the Cambridge
University PhD student who studied meerkats in the
Kalahari Desert and quickly noticed their reaction to the
drongos' alarm calls.
When a predator was in the area, the birds could make an
alarm call and the meerkats would immediately dash for
cover in bolt holes.
Adapted from the news at BBC on Nov. 3, 2010. (www.bbc.co.uk)
bolt holes
n. (=loophole) 逃避处所, 避难所