Sharpies turn barn swallows into chick magnets

In June 2008, Current Biology released a study about barn swallows. With a marker, scientists darkened the breasts of 30 New Jersey swallows. The darkened swallows transferred from wimpy to studly. The darkened birds experienced higher testosterone levels, weight loss, and more interest from the ladies.

The study claimed female swallows considered the darkened males more attractive. “Other females might be looking at them as being a little more sexy, and the birds might be feeling better about themselves in response to that,” said researchers Kevin McGraw, biology professor at Arizona State University.

Of the 30 darkened male barn swallows, testosterone levels increased by 36 percent after one week while their 33 non-colored counterparts experienced reduced levels of testosterone.

“It’s the clothes make the man idea” said Rebecca Safran, lead author, biology professor at University of Colorado in Boulder. “It’s like you walk down the street and you’re driving a Rolls-Royce and people notice,” said Safran.

Safran also believes human and bird mating systems bare some similarities. Barn swallows are “socially monogamous and genetically promiscuous, same as humans,” said Safran.

I found this to be an interesting study. Laws of attraction are nothing new as most of us know from personal experience. Most of us understand physical attraction is a key to finding a partner.

For instance, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise get all the ladies while other guys get whatever is left. If nothing else, I see a potential ad campaign for Sharpie. “For guys without ladies, get yourself a Sharpie and become a hit with the ladies.”