Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

Birds provide an ideal subject of research for a variety of fundamental biologic questions. Bird song for example resembles human language in many ways. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen want to find out how bird song has developed through learning process and what role neuronal principles and hormones play in this process. Furthermore they study the evolution of partner selection and loyalty of partners. Why do individuals differ in their mating behaviour and how does this affect their reproductive success, are examples of questions, that they search the answers for. At the Radolfzell Ornithological Station, a sub-institute, scientists research bird and other animal migration behaviour: how do animals get from one place to another and how do they survive? All data are being collected in an international database to be able to combine them and to do long term studies. Those data can be important for the humans in that aspect that birds and insects often spread diseases.