They discuss this in the paper. Scientists aren’t just randomly doing shit, they do actually put in thought.
Video Playback Techniques
Pigeons are social animals. They often communicate
with each other by exhibiting distinct behaviors, such as
courtship displays in front of potential mates. Accordingly, the occurrence of a courtship display indicates that
a bird ‘recognizes’ the visual object as a potential mate
[Shimizu, 1998; Partan et al., 2005; Patton et al., 2010]. In
studies in our laboratory, as well as that of Barrie J. Frost
and Nikolaus F. Troje [Frost et al., 1998], subject pigeons
were exposed to live stimulus pigeons, videotaped pigeons, and photographs of pigeons to examine which visual features can trigger spontaneous courtship displays.
…
The significant results of video-playback stimuli further emphasize the potency of visual signals in courtship,
considering the fact that the quality of a video-playback
stimulus is much poorer compared to both real live stimulus birds and taxidermic models [D’Eath, 1998]. The
video-playbacks were presented on a 2-dimensional
monitor screen that was designed for the eyes of human
observers. Video stimuli cannot provide depth information nor accurate color information for the avian visual
system. However, the fact that video-playbacks can trigger courtship responses does not imply that the stimulus
deficiencies are irrelevant for the expression of courtship
responses.
Edit: Also as others have discussed, the Tumblr OP is misrepresenting the results of the study. Even in this study the pigeons showed clear preference patterns that indicate that they’re understanding that it’s a picture of a pigeon.
I never said the authors didn’t discuss this. I was explaining it to people less familiar with this issue.
I realize the results support general face recognition. Pigeons are pretty good at visual discrimination on trained/experienced material.
But results should still be considered somewhat “unnatural” as the research was not on normally developed pigeons.
Interesting story: the university I attended used to have a professor who had pigeon housing on the roof of the psych building and would use wild pigeons for experiments. He fed the birds to coax them to participate.
Very ethical because essentially the birds volunteered. And high quality results because they were average wild pigeons in experience and ability.
However the university shut it all down.
This was before my time there but that’s the story I was told.
They discuss this in the paper. Scientists aren’t just randomly doing shit, they do actually put in thought.
Edit: Also as others have discussed, the Tumblr OP is misrepresenting the results of the study. Even in this study the pigeons showed clear preference patterns that indicate that they’re understanding that it’s a picture of a pigeon.
I never said the authors didn’t discuss this. I was explaining it to people less familiar with this issue.
I realize the results support general face recognition. Pigeons are pretty good at visual discrimination on trained/experienced material.
But results should still be considered somewhat “unnatural” as the research was not on normally developed pigeons.
Interesting story: the university I attended used to have a professor who had pigeon housing on the roof of the psych building and would use wild pigeons for experiments. He fed the birds to coax them to participate.
Very ethical because essentially the birds volunteered. And high quality results because they were average wild pigeons in experience and ability.
However the university shut it all down.
This was before my time there but that’s the story I was told.