Cheating Mates
It’s no wonder that so many people cheat on their spouses. It’s part of the evolutionary process. A few days ago I talked about female swans cheating on their male mates but the same is also true of Peregrine Falcons. This interesting story involving 3 falcons in Western Canada (Edmonton or Calgary to be more precise) has been making the news.
Here’s the story in brief. The male falcon’s female mate is currently flying back to the nest from somewhere in South America, but in the meantime, a younger female has moved in with this male mate. Of course the guy isn’t going to kick the younger chick out. What kind of bird wants to be all alone in a nest. Plus, what if his former mate doesn’t make it back to the nest alive! You see, it all boils down to reproduction and the evolutionary process.
The older female finally arrives home. The scientists know her exact whereabouts because she has a tracking device that was placed on her last season. You’d think after flying from such a far distance that she would be tired, but no… She sees that a new female has moved in and she is pissed. A 1/2 hour bird catfight ensues.
To make the long story short, the older female loses and has to leave in search of a new mate and the male falcon ends up with the younger chick. Again the idea of survival of the fittest when it comes to mating.
Tag: cheating mates