Comments on: Phantom Nesting

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:24:37 +0000

econobiker – we’re really just not sure. I think this would make an excellent study. I did ask around, and the consensus is that this behavior is not uncommon in captive chimpanzees, but it seems that it’s not observed, at least not by those I queried, in the wild. I don’t know if it’s observed in sanctuaries in Africa.

Most chimpanzees caught in the wild, though, were caught as infants, so it’s difficult to say if they were old enough to retain memories.

By: econobiker

econobiker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:54:21 +0000

Is it possible that these chimps learned the actions from older, chimps while in lab captivity without proper nesting materials? The older, possible wild captured, chimps perhaps remembered their mothers building nests and still went through the motions kind of like building a “pretend nest” due to lacking nest materials.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:23:12 +0000

Candy – You’re right, they do tend to perform their phantom nesting in a corner, and their arm movements do seem as though they are patting down the edges of an imaginary nest. What’s really strange is that some chimps who don’t nest (like Foxie) will actually move blankets and straw out of the way to make a phantom nest.

Cindy – We can’t say with any certainty, but there seems to be some instinctive component to nest-making. My guess is that there is an innate drive, and possibly some rudimentary knowledge, but much of it is learned and fine-tuned early in life.

By: Carley Faughn

Carley Faughn — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:55:44 +0000

Yes! I have seen this before with a group I recently worked with in captivity. For the past year and half I have been studying as a graduate student in the Cognitive Evolution Group. Our chimps did something almost identical. I rarely recall them making the actual clap sound with their hands. However, they would gather enrichment items (often times to a corner like in the video above), clasp their hands and move their arms in a circular motion over their head. We always thought this was very interesting and I had never observed this in the other captive group I worked with in Kentucky. Thanks for sharing the video!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:09:02 +0000

How “hard wired” is nesting behavior? Or is it completely learned as a child? Do we know?

By: Candy (Tyler, TX)

Candy (Tyler, TX) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:30:32 +0000

I went back and watched the other CSNW nesting videos and does Foxie always attempt her nests in corners? I noticed that Burrito was in the corner also, Jody, Missy & Jamie seem to make them anywhere. Whoever came up with the term “Phantom Nesting” did a great job of naming it. I was watching the 06-06-2009 video of Foxie nesting, again she’s in the corner. Her movements are in a circular motion around the wall as if in her mind half of her nest is already built, she’s just patting it down like Missy does, so she adds the section behind her back. Voila, she has a nest!

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:50:31 +0000

MS – I coudn’t agree more. Those were the exact same emotions I felt while watching/reading this blog entry. Oh, I do hope they build beautiful nests one day.

By: Jeani Goodrich

Jeani Goodrich — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:39:58 +0000

Thank you Jackie for the video and Denice for more information. I agree with you, we just have to have patience. Foxie and Burrito will surprise us one day!

By: MS

MS — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:24:49 +0000

I find this video facinating, yet at the same time I’m sad that Burrito and Foxie were denied the chance to learn from their mothers how to build a nest in the wild.

Hang in there Foxie and Burrito! You’ll get the hang of it!

By: Margaret and Karen

Margaret and Karen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:59:14 +0000

How very interesting. Jackie you are GREAT at these teaching videos. Please do more. I love learning more about chimpanzee behavior.