Researcher Builds Bird "Fembot" to Study Mating
UC Davis researcher Gail Patricelli built a robot designed to look and act like a sexy sage-grouse, and attract the attention of males. The "FEATHERED FEMBOT" has a built-in video camera and high-quality microphone to record male courtship behavior from the female's point of view (rather than the old-fashioned way -- through binoculars). Patricelli's research will be featured on a "NATURE" TV show called "Sexual Selection" in spring 2008. The bird fembot lets researchers "get into a two-way interaction with the male," according to Patricelli. Eeww. Pretty soon, the Audobon Society will be calling Chris Hansen....
12:41 PM * PERMALINK * 3 comments
Comments:
Someone actually paid to have this made?
Lol.
It was in part paid for by Yours Truly -- as a California taxpayer...
Mike
Actually, funding was provided by the US Dept of Interior and the US Dept of Energy in an effort to determine the noise impacts associated with oil and gas field development on a bird that is being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
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