When Birds Collaborate: Mixed-Species Feeding in Antarctica

A flock of multiple species of seabirds on the Southern Ocean. Credit:Fernando Anido

It’s a scene straight out of a nature documentary: in the icy waters around Antarctica, seabirds dive from above while seals and whales surge from below, all feasting on clouds of krill. Yet zooming out, this burst of life is just a small moment in a vast, frozen wilderness.

Scientists have long wondered—how do so many species manage to find the same food source, in such a harsh and empty environment?

Cracking the Mystery of Collective Foraging

“It’s hard to convey just how forbidding this environment is,” says Sönke Johnsen, professor of biology at Duke University’s Trinity School of Arts & Sciences.

Johnsen, Duke postdoctoral researcher Jesse Granger, and University of California, Davis sensory ecologist Gabrielle Nevitt uncover how multiple species of Antarctic seabirds forage together — revealing surprising insights for both conservation and crowd behavior.

Following the Scent of Krill

Nevitt has long studied how environmental cues drive feeding frenzies in the Southern Ocean, particularly among petrels and albatrosses. She explains that some seabirds fly low over the water, following a chemical signal called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) — a compound released when krill are near the surface. Other species fly higher and watch these “smeller” birds, using their behavior as a guide to food.

“Exploiting food is probably very competitive, but finding it is cooperative,” Nevitt says.

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Simulating Nature Through Computer Models

Tracking bird movements in Antarctica is nearly impossible, so the researchers turned to computer simulations. Nevitt met Granger, a modeler, at a course in Sweden, who suggested building digital models to mimic the birds’ behavior. Together with Johnsen, an expert in animal vision, they set out to test how different sensory strategies affect foraging success.

“You treat each animal like a video game character,” Granger explains. “You give it behavior rules — and then you watch patterns emerge.”

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Teamwork Makes the Flock Work

The team ran several simulations, mixing birds that rely on smell with those that rely on sight. They also changed how species responded to each other — sometimes following neighbors, sometimes taking cues from birds with different sensory strengths.

The results were clear: mixed-species groups were the most successful at finding food. Even a small number of scent-tracking birds helped visually guided ones locate prey, underscoring the importance of diversity and balance in seabird populations.

“The group performs best when it includes a mix of species using different strategies,” Granger says. “But if that balance drops below a tipping point, the entire group’s success can collapse.”

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Lessons Beyond the Antarctic

The implications reach far beyond seabirds. The research offers insights into collective behavior across species — including humans.

“When we go to the state fair, nobody knows exactly where the entrance is,” says Johnsen. “Yet somehow, we all end up finding it. A small number of people picking up certain cues can influence the movement of the entire crowd.”