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Why Do Birds False Alarm Flight?
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International audience. Bird flocks often take flight suddenly, as though escaping from a predator, even though no predator is present. This is called "false alarm flighting". It happens so often that it is considered a problem that needs to be explained-surely, it is a significant waste of energy and a loss of potential foraging time. I propose that there is actually a benefit to false alarm flighting, which is that it allows birds in flocks to practice escaping. I present an argument that taking off very rapidly in the context of escape behaviour is much faster than normal takeoff behaviour, depends on body weight, and needs to be learned. It can benefit from constant adjustment to flock-mates' sensitivities and takeoff times, and adjustment to one's own current weight, which varies rapidly in birds. My "fire drill" hypothesis posits that because of these potential benefits, false alarm flighting is a kind of beneficial motor practice.
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