The idle musings of a former military man, former computer geek, medically retired pastor and now full-time writer. Contents guaranteed to offend the politically correct and anal-retentive from time to time. My approach to life is that it should be taken with a large helping of laughter, and sufficient firepower to keep it tamed!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Now that's a smart bird!
It seems Japanese crows are rather smarter than your average bird. This video clip demonstrates their applied intelligence in action.
That's pretty amazing, for an animal with a brain the size of a baked bean!
THAT is called urbanization... Lots of animals/birds 'adapt' to their surroundings and mitigate their behaviour based on their environment. Good 'proof' though :-)
I recall seeing a report (here?) of crows learning to not only use tools, but to fabricate them also.
Perhaps a similar note, I've taught the magpies around here that they won't be bothered if they keep the noise down, and they appear to understand the lesson.
That's pretty small potatoes for a crow- they're up there with parrots in terms of avian intelligence, and perhaps are smarter. (Parrots may just be more communicative.)
Yes, corvids (the family crows belong to) have fabricated tools to solve problems- the example in question I recall was bending a bit of wire to suit the task. Magpies have even passed the mirror test of self-awareness.
THAT is called urbanization... Lots of animals/birds 'adapt' to their surroundings and mitigate their behaviour based on their environment. Good 'proof' though :-)
ReplyDelete"The problem though, is collecting the bits without getting run over"
ReplyDeleteNo joke.
Now that takes "Yield to Pedestrians" to a whole 'nother level.
I recall seeing a report (here?) of crows learning to not only use tools, but to fabricate them also.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a similar note, I've taught the magpies around here that they won't be bothered if they keep the noise down, and they appear to understand the lesson.
Jim
That's pretty small potatoes for a crow- they're up there with parrots in terms of avian intelligence, and perhaps are smarter. (Parrots may just be more communicative.)
ReplyDeleteYes, corvids (the family crows belong to) have fabricated tools to solve problems- the example in question I recall was bending a bit of wire to suit the task. Magpies have even passed the mirror test of self-awareness.