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Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

bbc.com

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Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#391

Post by m463 »

wDcBKgt66V8WDs wrote: post #333
dta3456 wrote: post #139

When I was a child, I'd spend a lot of time at my grandfathers farm, and one summer he took in an injured crow that hurt its wing. For some strange reason, he named all of his animals Jack, cats, dogs and now crows. So we'd go out in the morning and my grandfather would call out "Jack" and the Dog would come running down the yard, and then next thing you'd see the crow hopping down the yard after the dog. It would ar…

Inverse story: my dad sprayed water at a crow on his lawn, the crow then took to perching on the clogged gutter above the front door and kicking water at anyone who walked under.

Being a Dad means to set a good example. Otherwise you get buffonery like this. :)

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#392

Post by m463 »

dbingham wrote: post #279
dta3456 wrote: post #139

When I was a child, I'd spend a lot of time at my grandfathers farm, and one summer he took in an injured crow that hurt its wing. For some strange reason, he named all of his animals Jack, cats, dogs and now crows. So we'd go out in the morning and my grandfather would call out "Jack" and the Dog would come running down the yard, and then next thing you'd see the crow hopping down the yard after the dog. It would ar…

Crows also have vocal chords capable of producing human language, and - similar to parrots - they can learn human phrases in the right conditions. My partner used to volunteer at the local Wildcare and they had an injured crow resident that they couldn't release named Da Vinci. Da Vinci would always greet visitors with "Hello! How are you? How are you?"

There are lots of youtube videos of talking (and swearing) crows.

It's more likely to happen with parrots (since they can legally be kept as pets and interact with humans more closely), but crows have the brainpower for it.

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#393

Post by m463 »

burtonator wrote: post #6

Crows are amazingly intelligent animals. My GF and I went to the beach about a month ago and took our dog. The crows weren't frightened at ALL of our dog. They realized they could basically just 'float' up in the air when he came by using the breeze. The fact that they were amazingly calm about it was really telling. Second. We hid our stuff under a blanket. They realize it's still there as they have item persistence…

They probably learned it from the seagulls. or at least traded techniques :)

search for "seagull thief" videos.

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#394

Post by m463 »

tannhaeuser wrote: post #159

Crows are known to give "presents" to humans they like, such as dropping small pieces of metal they picked up, or worms. Also, crows have very rich tribal behaviours going on. There's a town close to mine called Husum (in North Germany) where there's a multi-year battle going on between crows in the park. You immediately notice it by the noise, and in fact by dead crows lying on the ground.

They also battle hawks. If I ever hear a lot of commotion (crow-motion?) I frequently see a hawk in the midst of it getting driven off by dive bombing crows.

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#395

Post by musiccog »

We made friends with a lorikeet (parrot) we named 'Percy' 11 years ago, our first one. Him and his 'wife' (we named her 'Cruella' for obvious reasons) stayed with him for years. We then have had - and contining now - years of their offspring. Names are hard to find with so many offspring - But 'Buttons' is Percys' great-grand son, and is still here today with us. When I moved in 15 years ago, there was none of this. Now, we have a grand colalition of Magpies (corvids), Lorikeets and King Parrots that protect each other, and keep us busy if not entertained every day.

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#396

Post by jachee »

ethbro wrote: post #305
state_less wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was in Nepal having breakfast. Some crows are sitting there watching me eat. I look down to read my book, and in not more than a few seconds, I hear the clinking of dishes. I look up and the crows are flying off with my toast and jam. It was right in front of me, but they were quick enough to get in and out before I could react. I realized that they are probably aware of my lack of attention to my food and that the…

I sat and watched a raven (majestic and BIG, if you've never seen one) at Yellowstone Park for a few minutes. It was a big parking lot outside the gift shop, and some visitor had parked his motorcycle there. Pannier bags on the back. The raven was sitting on one bag, actively working the zipper open. About a foot of zipper. Which is pretty impressive, but the more impressive thing was how . It would worry it for a co…

I once watched three ravens raid a McDonald's trash can.

Two of them held the "flap" open, and the third went in for fries. Once they'd made a decent pile on the ground outside the can, they all set in to feast.

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#399

Post by read_if_gay_ »

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #386
thatguy0900 wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a famous reddit copypasta

What is the point or doing this, especially without linking to the source or proving context?

Do you and your friends have inside jokes?

Re: Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates

#400

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

read_if_gay_ wrote: post #399
TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the point or doing this, especially without linking to the source or proving context?

Do you and your friends have inside jokes?

Nah mate.

I’m also terrible at parties.

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