Life in Pairs

One thing that I have always wondered from observing birds is how sociable, intimate and affectionate they are with one another. Let's take a look around in our backyards; the Sparrows, Cardinals, Finches and Chikadees - they all display such seemingly gentle courtship. Experts see this intimacy taking several forms. While some of our feathery-friends such as penguins and albatrosses form a life-long relationships, others such as Grouse and Hummingbirds show no strong connections whatsoever.

The birds that I have spotted have in most cases shown an exceptional level of courtship. For example, the tree Swallows featured here were found by a makeshift pond at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. As a human would, beside their partners, one swallow here can be seen courteously waiting for the other to enter. What was equally fascinating was that although these birds seemed aggressive at times, they could easily reconnect through mutual preening, coordinated dance moves, and a suite of calls, foraging and general calmness. Experts call these the ‘bidding interactions’ that help male and females reestablish their relationship after a harsh winter apart.

As entertaining as it may seem, the courtship behaviour exhibited by these tree swallows is markedly softer than the more elaborate displays put out by Western Grebes; the males and females execute a choreographed duet that culminates in a rapid tiptoed dance. Looking at such strong and yet subtle and intimate pair-bonds just got me wondering, if we humans are at a stage where establishing deeper connections is becoming increasingly impossible, maybe there is a lesson to be learnt for us from our backyard neighbours?