When we house animals in a mixed-species exhibit, it is important to study and monitor how they interact. In 2006, Katy Scott from the University of Durham studied the interactions in and between the three species of Auk in the Auk Cliff exhibit. The aim of the study was to see whether interactions differed over the year.

The behaviour of 8 birds from each of the three species; tufted puffins(Fratercula cirrhata), common guillemots(Uria aalge) and pigeon guillemots(Cepphus columba), over three seasons (winter, spring and summer) were compared and analysed to observe differences within and between species. Katy found that the common guillemots use interactive behaviours such as beak touching and allopreening (mutually preening the feathers of another bird) throughout the year to strengthen pair bonds. The tufted puffins and pigeon guillemots both have high levels of aggression between themselves and species as they compete for nest sites. The findings from this study contribute to the husbandry of the Auks as keepers can manage these birds, particularly in the breeding season by providing additional nest sites to avoid aggression.

This study was presented at the 9th BIAZA Annual Research Symposium in 2007.