bitterns had a happy marriage

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An example of anthropomorphism in the writing of a scientist:

"In the Amsterdam Zoo, there was a pair of bitterns of which the male had 'fallen in love' with the zoo director. In order to allow the bitterns to mate, the director had to stay out of sight for quite some time. This had the positive result that the male bittern became accustomed to the female. This ended up in a happy marriage, and, as the female sat brooding over her eggs, the director dared to show his face once more.

…When the male saw his former love companion again, he chased the female off the nest and seemed to signal by repeated bows that the director should take his proper place and carry on the business of incubation."

Jakob von Uexküll

von Uexküll, J. (2010). A Foray into the Worlds of Animals (J. D. O'Neil, Trans.). In A Foray into the Worlds of Animals; with, A Theory of Meaning (pp. 39-135). University of Minnesota Press. (Orignal publication 1934)

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Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.