birdbrained intelligence
- By Tina Griffith
- Published 07/1/2008
Tina Griffith
I love the summer, Halloween, animals, chocolate and music. That is the basis of knowing me. I also like to write and travel a little.
I was at the dentists office one day when I read an article about animal intelligence in National Geographic while waiting for my dentist. The thing that got me the most was not the dolphins or dogs, but the section on birds.
I never knew birds were that smart. I mean they aren't dumb, very few animals can get away with being that way in the wild. But then where did birdbrained come from? Isn't that negative?
Anyway, the article said something about perhaps Candonian Crows (I think thats what they were) and how they can use tools to get a piece of food from behind bars. Impressive. Whats more?
They can not only use one tool, but two. If they needed to reach a longer tool to reach the food they could use a shorter one to get to it. Jaw dropping, almost.
Then I read that they can make tools. What?!? Make tools? Seriously? Yes, that is what I said. They can bend a piece of metal to the shape that they need to get the food out of the cage.
I thought it was amazing. I mean
crows, making and using tools, I thought that was left for the human and chimpanzee families.
Today two catbirds (aka mockingbirds to most people) were swooping and yelling at the dogs and people that ventured too far into the back yard. My mom and I couldn't figure out why they were acting like this. They are known to be very territorial, but this was overkill.
Then we saw that a cage that has been sitting in our back yard by the gate for years and realized that there was a baby bird in there. The doors were still closed. Then we see a parent catbird go over to the cage and feed the baby.
It was their baby. That explains why they won't let anyone go near the cage. But what was the baby doing in there?
Apparently the baby fell or jumped out of the nest and the parents knew enough that she would be safe in the cage form predators. They come and feed her, and since I opened the door this morning, even go in and sit on the perch next to her.
It is absolutely amazing. Not to mention dangerous for us. But to think how smart a bird is. The next time someone calls you a birdbrain just say thank you.
I never knew birds were that smart. I mean they aren't dumb, very few animals can get away with being that way in the wild. But then where did birdbrained come from? Isn't that negative?
Anyway, the article said something about perhaps Candonian Crows (I think thats what they were) and how they can use tools to get a piece of food from behind bars. Impressive. Whats more?
They can not only use one tool, but two. If they needed to reach a longer tool to reach the food they could use a shorter one to get to it. Jaw dropping, almost.
Then I read that they can make tools. What?!? Make tools? Seriously? Yes, that is what I said. They can bend a piece of metal to the shape that they need to get the food out of the cage.
I thought it was amazing. I mean
Today two catbirds (aka mockingbirds to most people) were swooping and yelling at the dogs and people that ventured too far into the back yard. My mom and I couldn't figure out why they were acting like this. They are known to be very territorial, but this was overkill.
Then we saw that a cage that has been sitting in our back yard by the gate for years and realized that there was a baby bird in there. The doors were still closed. Then we see a parent catbird go over to the cage and feed the baby.
It was their baby. That explains why they won't let anyone go near the cage. But what was the baby doing in there?
Apparently the baby fell or jumped out of the nest and the parents knew enough that she would be safe in the cage form predators. They come and feed her, and since I opened the door this morning, even go in and sit on the perch next to her.
It is absolutely amazing. Not to mention dangerous for us. But to think how smart a bird is. The next time someone calls you a birdbrain just say thank you.
