Scientists keep learning...about how smart birds are

[lineola]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080819/sc_nm/magpies_mirror_dc

[lisap]

Something we already knew in our hearts :D

[Houseofcritters]

LOL...All those scientists had to do was come ask us owners!

I think just like children that if an animal is nurtured, loved, cherished and fed an excellent diet from birth it makes a very big impact on how their brain develops.
It would be interesting to see them do a study on well loved birds in different homes.

[Vegasmom]

You aren't going to believe this story, and it's VERY embarrasing to share, you'll think I'm one of those wackos, but it is the truth...

I've been known to take in injured/baby birds, so a neighbor brought me a new fledged crow. It was perfectly fine but wasn't ready to fly. I used my spare parrot cage, fed it, etc. I took it outside the next day to see if it was ready to fly, thinking it might have fallen and been stunned, and noticed a crow circling. Don't ask why in the world I did it, but I CROWED at it. It called back. After awhile I took the baby back inside. The next day, same thing, but 2 crows. The following day, more crows. The neighbors started to think I was off, crowing up at the sky every day. After about a week, it got to the point where there were at least 50+ crows. In trees, on powerlines and flying around circling when I crowed back at them. It was like Hitchcocks The Birds! Every single day. I could swear they were yelling encouragement to the baby. Finally the baby took off and some came back one more day. After that, they were gone. I really missed them too. So, now when we see one while driving, the family says, "Hey mom, there's your crow!" LOL! I might just get a crow tattoo someday.:D

Another story goes a gentleman accidently disturbed a crows nest when in a park. From then on, every time he tried to jog in the park, the crows would swoop on him. He had to stop going to that park because they recognized him even wearing different clothes, and they held a grudge.

[lisap]

Aah that is so sweet you saved the baby and they did know you did it. Birds are such amazing creatures and so overlooked by non-birdy types.

When we lived in Alaska I was once persuaded to give my sandwich to a Raven, it looked at me so pitiful. The little bugger probably flew to the McDonalds after but it played me like a harp :D

[chapala]

Thanks for sharing this story with us! Course as parrot owners, we already know about bird intelligence. I do enjoy reading what the researchers have found.
Reta