PAMELA McCORDUCK, a post-doctoral researcher at Bard College in New York, discusses her work on the phenomenon of melancholy in birds. McCorduck explains that melancholic birds exhibit a number of conspicuous behavioral changes, from being more likely to congregate in poor weather conditions, to engaging in more grooming and nest-building activities. She also examines the potential physiological causes of this syndrome, including changes in calcium levels and appetite.