Scientists and bird watchers have long known that the female brown-headed cowbird lays her eggs in the nests of other species of birds and relies on them to feed and rear her young. This has put tremendous stress on several other species, pushing them to the brink of extinction. The question is, why do the other birds allow the eggs to stay in their nests and hatch?
Dr. Jeff Hoover has answered that question. Dr. Hoover is an Avian Ecologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences who currently advises two NRES graduate students.
Dr. Hoover discovered that when the cowbird eggs are removed from the nests, the mother cowbird returns to the nest and destroys the owner's eggs. Learn more in the Nova scienceNOW segment, Gangster Birds. Click "Play Video" to see the 12 minute piece. This research also appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of INHS Reports.