Stefan Stanescu
@stefan-stanescu.bsky.social
MSc. student in cognitive ecology at @mcgill.ca, studying memory & movement in gulls. Amateur mycologist, botanist, and birder-to-be 🍄🍁🐦⬛🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Had a lovely time talking cognition and ecology (and putting my French skills to the test) at the Société Québécoise pour l'Étude Biologique du Comportement this weekend :) ⚜️
November 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Had a lovely time talking cognition and ecology (and putting my French skills to the test) at the Société Québécoise pour l'Étude Biologique du Comportement this weekend :) ⚜️
Reposted by Stefan Stanescu
New paper with 129 collaborators from 82 institutions in 24 countries across six continents, five of these are Animal Cognition Research Groups members! dx.plos.org/10.1371/...
@ba-whittaker.bsky.social @psychualberta.bsky.social
@ba-whittaker.bsky.social @psychualberta.bsky.social
A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Neophobia (the aversive response to novelty) varies considerably across species and individuals, and can impact adaptability and survival. This study assesses neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 bird species across 25 orders, identifying phylogenetic influences and broad ecological drivers of neophobia.
dx.plos.org
October 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
New paper with 129 collaborators from 82 institutions in 24 countries across six continents, five of these are Animal Cognition Research Groups members! dx.plos.org/10.1371/...
@ba-whittaker.bsky.social @psychualberta.bsky.social
@ba-whittaker.bsky.social @psychualberta.bsky.social
Reposted by Stefan Stanescu
Bird species with specialized diets and migratory habits tend to show higher fear of novelty, a stable trait that may influence their adaptability to environmental change. doi.org/g96v62
Chickening out: Why some birds fear novelty
The largest-ever study on neophobia, or fear of novelty, has discovered the key reasons why some bird species are more fearful of new things than others.
phys.org
October 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Bird species with specialized diets and migratory habits tend to show higher fear of novelty, a stable trait that may influence their adaptability to environmental change. doi.org/g96v62
Reposted by Stefan Stanescu
New paper on fear of novelty in birds: 129 collaborators, 82 institutions, 24 countries, and 6 continents! 5 from the lab of Dr @laurenguillette.bsky.social
(also featuring Connor Lambert, Stefan Stanescu, Karen Yeung, and Dr Ben Whittaker) @ba-whittaker.bsky.social
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
(also featuring Connor Lambert, Stefan Stanescu, Karen Yeung, and Dr Ben Whittaker) @ba-whittaker.bsky.social
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Neophobia (the aversive response to novelty) varies considerably across species and individuals, and can impact adaptability and survival. This study assesses neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 bird ...
dx.plos.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New paper on fear of novelty in birds: 129 collaborators, 82 institutions, 24 countries, and 6 continents! 5 from the lab of Dr @laurenguillette.bsky.social
(also featuring Connor Lambert, Stefan Stanescu, Karen Yeung, and Dr Ben Whittaker) @ba-whittaker.bsky.social
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
(also featuring Connor Lambert, Stefan Stanescu, Karen Yeung, and Dr Ben Whittaker) @ba-whittaker.bsky.social
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...