Social organization and vocal communication in wild zebra finches

Understanding how animals organise socially and communicate in the wild is a central theme of behavioural ecology and is particularly relevant as environments become increasingly unpredictable due to global climate change. This PhD project studies key aspects of the social organisation and vocal communication of zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis) in the Australian Outback; a harsh environment with unpredictable conditions. While zebra finches are a well-established model species in the lab, their behaviour in the wild remains underexplored, particularly their social structure, movement patterns, and vocal communication. The core of this PhD project is four research chapters that address questions and hypotheses on the social organization and vocal communication of zebra finches in the wild. Chapter 1 examines how pair-bonded birds find each other after separations, testing whether social hotspots function as reliable reunion points. Chapter 2 focuses on family cohesion and song learning, and tests whether juvenile males stay with their father until the song learning window closes at two months of life. Chapter 3 focuses on vocal communication at social hotspots and nest boxes, asking if vocal cues signal movement intentions and whether individuals respond more to familiar vocalisations. Chapter 4 assesses whether zebra finch populations show fission-fusion dynamics or multilevel social organisation. We conduct fieldwork in Fowlers Gap, Australia, using automated radiotelemetry tracking, acoustic monitoring, and behavioural observations. Studying zebra finches in their natural environment gives insights into the organisation of complex animal societies with implications for understanding social adaptations to unpredictable environments. Given that zebra finches are the most studied songbird worldwide, the findings of this dissertation will also be highly relevant for laboratory research. Overall, my research will highlight how animals adapt their social behaviours to changing ecological conditions, which is crucial in the context of global environmental change.