The decision to focus on zebra finches, which weigh only ten grams, was no coincidence: the zebra finch is the avian species most commonly kept in laboratories all over the world. Gahr’s team developed most of the technology needed for this operation themselves. Along with video recordings, the acoustic and neuronal recordings are made on an almost continuous basis – total surveillance, so to speak. For the purpose of this research, the Dutchman with the long silver hair launched what can only be described as large-scale wire(less)tapping of the department’s zebra finches: he and his colleagues combine the listening of the calls and songs of the small finches with the telemetric recording of their brain waves. Gahr has known ter Maat, an experienced electrophysiologist, since his time at the University of Amsterdam. To do this, the research group headed by his colleague Andries ter Maat uses methods that involve the comprehensive and extensive use of observation technology that would make any secret service proud. “We record the activity in the brain so that we can link the molecular mechanisms at the cellular level with the animal’s behavior,” says Gahr. They also study how both genes and learning behavior influence a bird’s typical song and calls. The researchers in Seewiesen not only focus on the neuroanatomy of the typical areas of the songbird brain, such as the song nuclei, which are located in the forebrain (and include the nucleus robustus arcopallii, or RA for short), but even examine individual neurons at work when a male bewitches a female with his song or a young bird learns the basics of social chirping. Behind this activity lie very concrete interests: male birds learn their song to impress females and to enhance their reproductive prospects. With the help of a wide array of methods from the fields of electrophysiology, molecular biology and behavioral biology, Gahr and his team aim to find out what goes on in a bird’s head when it sings or hears the chirping of its conspecifics. In the meantime, the 50-year-old scientist, who was born in the Palatinate region of Germany, can once again concentrate on his actual research objective: unlocking the secret of birdsong. A fitting celebration in honor of its completion is being planned for next summer. “Apart from the outer walls, hardly a single stone remains in place,” he says. Since his appointment, Gahr, together with fellow Director Bart Kempenaers, has mainly been occupied with the planning and restructuring of the entire institute complex and the simultaneous establishment of a new research department. It is steeped in history: many famous behavioral scientists have researched here, the most prominent being Konrad Lorenz. The institute, formerly known as the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology and located in a forest between Lakes Starnberg and Ammer, has just emerged from four years of reorganization and renovation. For the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, southwest of Munich, a period of radical change has come to an end. The fireplace by the door originates from von Holst’s time, but there is little else that recalls this great era of classical behavioral biology. When they are unpacked, his office – the room in which renowned behavioural physiologist Erich von Holst once lived and worked – will be fully set up and ready for work. “Just these three and the move is complete,” he says. Manfred Gahr apologizes for the slight disarray. I would NEVER recommend housing Gouldians with Zebra Finches at any time because there are high activity finches and will stress quiet finch species like Gouldians.Just three more boxes. I would also not house Gouldians with Society (Bengalese) Finches during breeding season because some Society Finches do carry diseases that will infect and kill Gouldian chicks. You should never house Lady Gouldians with Parrot Finches during breeding season because these 2 species are closely related and will hybridize. Typical species that can be housed with Gouldians in a non-breeding colony would be Owl Finches, Society Finches, Parrot Finches, Masked Grassfinches, Longtail Finches, Shafttail Finches, Canaries and various African waxbills…Cordon Bleus, Purple Grenadiers, Orange Cheek Finches, Green Singing Finches, Lavender Finches among others. ![]() ![]() So I would suggest that until you become familiar with owning different species and their breeding habits, that you only house different species together when they are not in breeding condition. ![]() Gouldians are fairly docile, quiet flock birds, but just like other species, they can become territorial during breeding season.
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