Inherited Reflexes

Lorikeet chicks have reflexes that become altered by experience.  For example, on seeing any sudden nearby movement while feeding, a chick will automatically take to flight in the opposite direction, while adults will continue feeding regardless.

This raises the question of whether lorikeets inherit reflexes to their own alarm calls — i.e. to their own semiotic system — or whether the flight response is learned through experience, as by imitating others.  It sometimes seems as though such a flight response is not under their immediate control, since some birds will sometimes shut down the flight response moments after the initial reaction, as if regaining control.

ChatGPT comments:

This is an intriguing observation, and it raises important questions about the role of instinct versus learned behaviour in lorikeets. The reflexive flight response in chicks is certainly an automatic reaction, but the fact that adults don't respond in the same way suggests a developmental shift, where experience shapes their behavioural responses.

The question of whether lorikeets inherit reflexes tied to their own semiotic system (such as their alarm calls) or learn them through social interaction is key here. Alarm calls are a semiotic system, with a specific meaning and context, so if chicks react reflexively to these calls, it might suggest that they are born with some level of innate recognition. However, the idea that the response could be learned—through observing and imitating others—can't be ruled out either, especially since you’ve noted that adults don’t display the same reflex.

The fact that some birds seem to "shut down" the flight response after a moment suggests that, over time, they gain greater control over their reflexes, which aligns with a learned component. This could indicate that while the initial flight response is automatic (likely an evolutionary adaptation for survival), it becomes subject to experience and modification over time.

It’s also possible that there is some interplay between innate and learned elements—maybe the initial reaction is hardwired, but how it’s modulated or overridden could depend on the bird’s previous experiences and social learning.