A friend of mine who was on safari in Africa recently posted a stunning photo (used with his permission below) of a Red-billed Oxpecker on an Impala Ram’s neck. The photo alone was stunning with its composition and contrast of colors. But when I zoomed in, I caught glimpse of another perspective, one that I jokingly described as “the side eye” by the way the Impala was looking almost backwards towards the Oxpecker and the side position of the bird’s eye. But then something else caught my attention. The bird’s mouth is open indicating it is talking and the Impala’s ear appears to be open wide and tilted as if intently listening to what the Oxpecker has to say. Then, my perspective shifted to the thought, what do these very different creatures have to communicate to each other of value? Can they even understand each other’s language? Do they even trust or believe what the other is saying? Or do they ignore the messages of the other because they deem them less intelligent, important, etc. because of their outward appearance and preconceived notions about something that is different from them?”
I know these questions I pondered could also apply to us as humans, but first I was still intrigued by the communications between these two very different animals. So, thanks to AI, I did a little quick research.
Below is a very detailed description from AI of the complex interactions between the two very different animals, their communications (verbal/auditory and non-verbal/physical), their mutualistic value, and their potential harm. Read if interested in the details or if you prefer, skip ahead.
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The red-billed oxpecker and the impala ram share a symbiotic relationship that is primarily mutualistic, where both species benefit. However, aspects of their communication and value can also be described as parasitic. The oxpecker's presence provides both a service and a potential harm to the impala.
Communications
While not a conscious agreement, the behavior of the oxpecker communicates information to the impala through physical and audible signals.
• Audible warnings: Oxpeckers act as sentinels, issuing loud warning calls to the impala when a predator approaches. This gives the impala, and often other animals nearby, an early heads-up to the danger.
• Physical cues: The impala tolerates the oxpecker's presence and its movements across its body, a physical communication of the accepted arrangement. The impala may indicate discomfort through body language, but typically stays still to let the bird work.
Value of the interaction
Mutualistic value (Benefit to both)
• Parasite control: The oxpecker removes and feeds on ectoparasites like ticks, fleas, and lice from the impala's skin. This provides the oxpecker with a steady food source while reducing the impala's parasite load, which can improve its overall health and comfort.
• Wound care: The birds will also nibble at dead tissue on wounds, which can help clean them.
• Increased alertness: The oxpeckers' alarm calls make the impala more aware of its surroundings, giving it a survival advantage by warning it of danger.
Parasitic value (Harm to the impala)
The relationship can turn parasitic, and some observers even consider it to be more exploitative in certain circumstances.
• Wound interference: Instead of just cleaning wounds, red-billed oxpeckers have been known to feed directly on the blood of the impala. They can use their beaks to keep wounds open or to create new ones to get at the blood, which can inhibit healing.
• Blood-feeding: The act of feeding on blood is a parasitic behavior that can be detrimental to the impala, though how much harm is caused is a subject of debate.
In summary, the sight of a red-billed oxpecker on an impala's neck is a textbook example of complex animal symbiosis. It demonstrates both a valuable service that offers pest control and predator warnings, as well as a potential cost in the form of blood-feeding and wound interference.
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As a follow up personal summary of the information above, the communications between the very different animals are a complex relationship where there may be both benefits (warnings of danger) and harm if one or the other takes advantage of the communication exchange and relationship for their own purposes, not taking into consideration or caring what harm it causes to the other. I posit that our human communications and interactions are similar. There are many benefits to communicating with those who are different from us, and having a mutual understanding and tolerance for those differences because through our communication and interactions we and our broader society may benefit mutually. But we should also be alert to communications and behavior that is parasitic and seeks to do us harm for their own benefit and gains.
So, what is the message here? We read and talk about active listening in our personal and professional lives. And we hear people suggest talking and actively listening to people who are different from us to learn from each other, practice empathy, and become a better person and society respecting our differences. I agree with all those points and see in this image of the animals demonstration of these points and listening to others who are different. At the same time, I would add the caveat to actively listen with an alertness to whether the messages and actions of the other are truly meant for mutual benefit or if the exchange has turned more harmful. Being alert to these points may be very helpful to consider in your personal and professional journey as the conversations may provide warnings to dangers ahead, new insights to your journey, and support along the journey to keep you safe and focused on the path.
As always, I encourage you to reflect on your own stories with actively listening to those who are different from you. What were the mutual benefits for both of you in the conversations and engagement? Did both of you come away learning something new or valuable that helped you move forward positively towards personal or professional goals? Or was the communication and engagement more one-sided and not beneficial? Were there signs of a parasitic, less mutually beneficial, self-serving, or even harmful situation with the communication? How might you increase your active listening and awareness in the future with people who are different, while also being alert to signs if it is mutually beneficial or one-sided and harmful? These reflections on your stories may help improve your overall communications and awareness with people and situations that are different from you and increase your resilience and capabilities to navigate challenging situations during times of transformation and thrive.
I know this topic may have gotten a bit deeper and darker than my initial observations in the photo, but sometimes our observations take us to unexpected places where we find new insights. I know this reflection did that for me. But humor is just as important in life, and who knows, maybe I was reading way too much into that image and the Oxpecker was telling the Impala a great joke or filling them in on the latest gossip in the Mara region of the Serengeti. We would only know if we truly listened, because everyone has a story to tell, and Everyone’s Story Matters.
