Fledglings, for their part, are not passive pupils. The studies by Ridley and her colleagues suggest that the young birds use at least two clever social strategies to boost the amount of food they get. First, they’re picky about whom they follow, choosing to tag along with adults who are especially proficient at capturing prey. Second, when they’re hungry, they “blackmail” adults into feeding them at higher rates by venturing into riskier open locations. When they’re satiated, they stay in the cover and relative safety of trees.
