Ducklings form a strong bond with their mother.
Imprinting is a form of animal learning that occurs at a very specific stage in that animal’s life. It can take a variety of forms, but the most famous type is probably filial imprinting, in which young birds learn to recognize and follow their parents. In addition to being time sensitive, this type of learning also usually happens very quickly, as animals quickly absorb the lessons they need to learn.
Birds print when they are very young.
In addition to being famous, filial imprinting is also an excellent and easy-to-understand way of learning. When young birds such as geese, chickens and ducks are born, they are predisposed to form a strong bond with the first object they see, which is usually a parent, more typically the mother. As a result, the young will follow their mother, learn to recognize other members of their species, and acquire a host of important life skills, from swimming to foraging.
Many people believe that imprinting plays a role in sexual attraction.
In the 1930s, a researcher named Konrad Lorenz became very interested in imprinting and was able to show that geese and ducks latch onto the first thing they see moving, whether or not it is another duck. He managed to raise a flock of geese which impressed him, and many photos of Lorenz being followed by a flock of geese can be seen in various publications to attest to his success.
Biologists who raise young birds with the intention of returning them to the wild tend to be very careful with their students, as they do not want their birds imprinting on them. Instead, puppets designed to resemble adult birds are used to feed and interact with the chicks to give them a better chance of survival after release.
Many people believe that printing is very important for social development. Young birds that are deprived of the opportunity to print are often socially awkward and may not recognize other members of their species, or may have difficulty engaging in basic behaviors that are common to their species. The process also appears to play a role in sexual attraction and other responses to conspecifics.
In an interesting phenomenon known as reverse imprinting or the Westermarck effect, researchers have found that people who spend early childhood together tend to be less likely to be sexually attracted to each other. This could be seen as a form of desensitization and has been documented in various societies, suggesting that it is a genuine psychological phenomenon, rather than a cultural one.