Crows have shown that two tools are better than one when it comes to problem solving, scientists say.

A University of Auckland study has revealed that New Caledonian crows can use separate tools in quick succession to retrieve an out-of-reach snack.

The birds were using reasoning that was more commonly seen in great apes and humans, the New Zealand team reported in the journal Current Biology.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6948446.stm

I thought this was fascinating.

I still remember when they found that they could use one tool. The combination is indeed impressive, I wonder how many species of crow they have tried the same experiment on so far though.

Just wait till they figure out how to send spam emails… we will be doomed.

Crow-family burds can use tools, communicate and talk (in order of easiest talkers to hardest- Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Raven).

Always wanted a pet crow and to train it to say “Nevermore” although all the gurls from Uni are terrified of birds and I quote “I swear to God you get a crow I’ll f*** you up”. So that’s out the equation.

I adore crows.  They’re not the only ones to use tools, but certainly their ability to change the shape of wire bits and twigs to ‘create’ appropriate tools for specific tasks is astonishing. 

FuzzyButt hasn’t done that, but he does select specific objects to scratch behind or the top of his head (I call it ‘combing’); he coos while doing it and the desire to have pets or rubs came to my mind the first few times I saw this.  Now, however, he simply coos and walks over to me, lays his head down and figures the best ‘tools’ of all are my fingernails.

Renquist - 17 August 2007 12:17 AM

Crow-family burds can use tools, communicate and talk (in order of easiest talkers to hardest- Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Raven).

Always wanted a pet crow and to train it to say “Nevermore” although all the gurls from Uni are terrified of birds and I quote “I swear to God you get a crow I’ll f*** you up”. So that’s out the equation.

It seems to me that you would be in heaven there.  Oh wait.  f*** you up.    I guess that’s not the same thing.  Darn I had a plan forming.  Guess I can scrap that one.

gray - 17 August 2007 06:51 PM

Renquist - 17 August 2007 12:17 AM

Crow-family burds can use tools, communicate and talk (in order of easiest talkers to hardest- Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Raven).

Always wanted a pet crow and to train it to say “Nevermore” although all the gurls from Uni are terrified of birds and I quote “I swear to God you get a crow I’ll f*** you up”. So that’s out the equation.

It seems to me that you would be in heaven there.  Oh wait.  f*** you up.    I guess that’s not the same thing.  Darn I had a plan forming.  Guess I can scrap that one.

I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like getting shagged by a hot girl while there’s a crow sitting on a perch shrieking “NEVERMORE” at you.

It’s like a House of Usher porn film…

Renquist - 17 August 2007 06:53 PM

gray - 17 August 2007 06:51 PM

Renquist - 17 August 2007 12:17 AM

Crow-family burds can use tools, communicate and talk (in order of easiest talkers to hardest- Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Raven).

Always wanted a pet crow and to train it to say “Nevermore” although all the gurls from Uni are terrified of birds and I quote “I swear to God you get a crow I’ll f*** you up”. So that’s out the equation.

It seems to me that you would be in heaven there.  Oh wait.  f*** you up.    I guess that’s not the same thing.  Darn I had a plan forming.  Guess I can scrap that one.

I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like getting shagged by a hot girl while there’s a crow sitting on a perch shrieking “NEVERMORE” at you.

It’s like a House of Usher porn film…

Well you could teach it to say something else.  “GO FOR MORE” is pretty close.

gray - 17 August 2007 07:02 PM

Renquist - 17 August 2007 06:53 PM

gray - 17 August 2007 06:51 PM

Renquist - 17 August 2007 12:17 AM

Crow-family burds can use tools, communicate and talk (in order of easiest talkers to hardest- Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Raven).

Always wanted a pet crow and to train it to say “Nevermore” although all the gurls from Uni are terrified of birds and I quote “I swear to God you get a crow I’ll f*** you up”. So that’s out the equation.

It seems to me that you would be in heaven there.  Oh wait.  f*** you up.    I guess that’s not the same thing.  Darn I had a plan forming.  Guess I can scrap that one.

I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like getting shagged by a hot girl while there’s a crow sitting on a perch shrieking “NEVERMORE” at you.

It’s like a House of Usher porn film…

Well you could teach it to say something else.  “GO FOR MORE” is pretty close.

“NEVERMORE!”

“Oh…oh…mmm…you say such nice things!”

“Uh…mm…villains dissemble no more…I admit the deed…uh…tear up the planks…it is the beating of his hideous heart…”