Field-tested teamwork: the greater honeyguide leads people straight to wild hives using a distinctive call, then waits for the payoff. We open the nest; the bird feasts on wax and larvae. A centuries-old alliance, still working.
#Honeyguide #GreaterHoneyguide #HumanWildlifeCooperation #WildlifeFact
Honeyguide Bird on Pinterest.
🐦🍯 #FolkyFriday #WorldFolkloreDay 🐝
Meet the greater #Honeyguide, a bird famous for leading people to wild bee nests! In northern Mozambique, Yao honey-hunters call “brrr-hm!” and the honeyguide responds, guiding them to honey. Humans harvest the sweet reward, and the bird feasts on leftover wax.
A brown bird with black throat, pink bill, dark grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. The wings are streaked whitish, and the shoulder patch is yellow. It looks thoughtful, as it tries to decide whether to lead a Tanzanian hunter to delicious honey, or to seriously fuck up their day.
Today I learned that there's a bird called a honeyguide which will lead humans to the location of wild bee hives.
Except about one time in five, it will lead them to a dangerous predator.
#honeyguide #tanzania
Follow that #honeyguide ... well, maybe not. But are the birds just plain bad or simply forgetful when they lead #honey hunters into fierce creatures instead of #honeybee nests? news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
#honeybadger #honeyguide #animalbehavior #naturefacts #wildlife #animalalliances #animalcooperation #natureisawesome #wildlifephotography #naturelovers
I have a #poem in the latest issue of #honeyguide magazine.
Their focus is on animals, and I appreciate my poem about #chronicillness being included in a journal with a broad theme.
It often feels like #disability topics get relegated to special issues.
#poetry #lupus
www.honeyguidemag.com
