There are a few key reasons why mother birds eat their babies' poops:
- Removal of waste - By eating the poop, the mother bird is removing waste from the nest, which helps keep it clean and reduces the risk of attracting predators.
- Reabsorption of nutrients - The poop contains undigested nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals from the food the parents fed the chicks. Eating it allows reabsorption of these important nutrients.
- Concealment of nest location - Not leaving poops in or around the nest makes it harder for predators or competitors to find by smell. It masks the nest location.
- Lowers risk of disease - By removing poops, it reduces pathogens building up in the confined nest space and lowers disease transmission risk to the vulnerable chicks.
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