ИСТИНА

An experimental approach to investigate some cognitive abilities of the Glaucous-winged Gull in their natural habitat has been developed. Some pilot experiments were carried out in a gull breeding colony on Toporkov Island (the Commander Islands Nature Reserve, Russia). In particular, an experiment with 26 gulls showed that the birds can acquire behavior by observing other conspecifics. Untrained gulls (observers) watched conditioned gulls (demonstrators) performance of two tasks which are not within the range of their natural capacities. Six demonstrators were trained to obtain a food placed into an opaque box. 15 – 41 trials were necessary for them to reach а criteria. 13 from 14 observers started to obtain a food from the box in the first 3 trials. Other two demonstrators were trained to choose one of four boxes that were differed only in color. 12 – 15 trials were necessary for them to reach а criteria. 3 from 4 observers performed the task correctly in the first trial. These results suggest that observational learning is one of possible ways to transfer skills from one to other individual in a gull colony.