For white-winged choughs, difficult ecological conditions such as drought tear the fabric of their society, setting the scene for societal collapse, power struggles, and complex Machiavellian social tactics—like kidnapping. Violence erupts. Some individuals triumph, but “in circumstances where it’s almost impossible to live and breed without harassment,” says Heinsohn. A social structure that functions well and supports the birds in good times is transformed into a harsh, violent, splintered system with big rewards only for the few, bullying of the smaller players, and hardship for most of the
...more
