Scrub Jays (observed by researchers in California) gather around dead birds, apparently mourning, and signal to other birds when they see a dead bird or a predator. This protects the group from danger.
I read about this in the news on the internet. Information about birds 'mourning' not only increases our appreciation of animal behaviour but helps us analayse why we like to be informed of predators and deaths which might indicate danger in our vicinity.
I had to research the reasons behind mourning customs after the death of my father, following instructions as to how to prepare the house for the funeral prayers. Was I supposed to dress a certain way, prepare food, expect others to bring food, not eat?
From the research on birds I can see that not eating when mourning the dead has dual benefits. I always thought human mourners stopped eating because they were too upset. A secondary reason is being too busy with funerals to cook.
Not foraging gives mourners more time (as some animals spend all day eating). The mourners, especially birds and animals, spend less time hunting alone which could endanger you (whether bird/animal/human) from predators. What's more, you eliminate the danger of the family mourners, or others in the vicinity, eating something poisonous which killed the dead.
To give a few examples: poisonous berries on a nearby plant killing birds, salmonella in the household chicken, serial killer in the office or wicked stepmother or stepfather.
The group funeral makes the youngsters come together and learn about danger. This strategy protects the group, even if nobody knows the source of the poison or even that the dead bird/animal/human was poisoned.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts. I have other posts on funerals in different countries, Christian and Jewish.
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