Lovebirds
Ah, Academia. Where else could you get paid for creating an avian-realdoll army?
The male sage-grouse, a chicken-like game bird, isn’t too picky about mates.
Researchers have observed the bird trying to woo unusual objects — even cow patties in the field.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that these males are duped by UC Davis researcher Gail Patricelli’s bird robot, which is fairly convincing despite the wheels instead of legs. Patricelli is using the feathered fembot to learn about mating rituals of the greater sage-grouse. She tested a prototype in Wyoming last year and will return this spring to put the cyber chick to the test.
(Via The Raw Feed. With bonus, though underwhelming, video footage.)