To prevent improper imprinting, what practice is recommended when rearing or hand-feeding a baby bird?

• A. Place an infant in direct sight of its own species
• B. Keep it with multiple species
• C. Avoid any social contact
• D. Expose to humans constantly

Answer: (A)

Bird imprinting is shaped by early social exposure, so the best approach is to ensure the baby bird can see and observe its own species. Placing the infant so it has direct sight of conspecifics provides natural social cues and helps develop appropriate species recognition and social behavior, while reducing the likelihood that it will imprint on humans. Other options raise problems: interacting with multiple species can blur species-specific social learning, isolating the bird from social contact can hinder normal development, and constant human exposure increases human imprinting and dependence, which can interfere with future rearing and release. So, the recommended practice is to keep the bird in view of its own species.