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Brief Communications
Nature 431, 39 (2 September 2004) | doi:10.1038/431039a; Published online 1 September 2004
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Animal behaviour: Use of dung as a tool by burrowing owls
Douglas J. Levey1, R. Scot Duncan2 & Carrie F. Levins3
Abstract
This bird distributes animal dung in and around its burrow to provide a bait for its prey.
Abstract
Reports of tool usage by birds tend to be anecdotal as only a few individuals may be involved1 and the behaviour observed can often be interpreted in other ways2, 3. Here we describe the widespread collection of mammalian dung by burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) and show that they use this dung as a bait to attract dung beetles, a major item of prey. Our controlled investigation provides an unambiguous estimate of the importance of tool use in a wild animal4.
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