?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Vigilance%2C+Flock+Size%2C+and+Flock+Geometry%3A+Information+Gathering+by+Western+Evening+Grosbeaks&rft.creator=Bekoff%2C+Marc&rft.subject=Ethology&rft.description=Vigilance+(scanning)+and+other+behavior+patterns+were+studied+in+free-ranging+Evening+Grosbeaks+(Coccothraustes+vespertinus)+at+feeders+to+assess+how+flock+size+and+flock+geometry+influenced+the+behavior+of+individual+birds.+The+present+results+indicate+that+the+way+in+which+individual+grosbeaks+are+positioned+with+respect+to+one+another+effects+many+aspects+of+their+behavior%2C+especially+when+a+flock+contains+four+or+more+birds.+Birds+in+a+linear+array+who+have+difficulty+seeing+one+another%2C+when+compared+to+individuals+organized+in+a+circle+who+can+easily+see+one+another%2C+are+(1)+more+vigilant%2C+(2)+change+their+head+and+body+positions+more+often%2C+(3)+react+to+changes+in+group+size+more+slowly%2C+(4)+show+less+coordination+in+head+movements%2C+and+(5)+show+more+variability+in+all+measures.+These+differences+in+behavior+can+be+explained+from+a+cognitive+ethological+perspective+that+favors+intentional+or+representational+explanations.+Specifically%2C+the+data+suggest+that+individual+grosbeaks%2C+when+scanning+and+moving+about%2C+are+visually+monitoring+the+flock+in+which+they+are+feeding+and+gathering+information+about+a+number+of+variables+including+flock+size%2C+what+others+are+doing%2C+where+others+are%2C+which+individuals+are+present%2C+phenotypic+features+of+flock+members%2C+food+resources%2C+or+the+location+of+potential+predators.+Individuals+likely+use+visual+records+of+the+behavior+and+perhaps+the+phenotypic+features+of+others%2C+and+this+information+influences+various+aspects+of+their+behavior.+&rft.date=1995&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=text%2Fhtml&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F155%2F1%2F199708002.html&rft.identifier=++Bekoff%2C+Marc++(1995)+Vigilance%2C+Flock+Size%2C+and+Flock+Geometry%3A+Information+Gathering+by+Western+Evening+Grosbeaks.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F155%2F