Crow-Cam Reveals Tool Use


A research team led by Christian Rutz of the University of Oxford mounted tiny cameras on the tails of crows to study their behavior in the wild. The study found that crows use tools (sticks, leaves, blades of grass) more extensively than previously thought. Crows were even observed carrying their favorite tool from place to place! Of course, now crows are using cameras to help researchers, too, which is strange enough in itself. Link

Update 10/4/07 by Alex: Here's the video: Link - Thanks Marilyn Terrell!

David Attenborough did a bit on New Caledonian crows and tool use for The Life of Birds (1998) where he discussed their tool use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwVhrrDvwPM

He also did a bit on crows in Japan using pavement to crack nuts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I honestly thought this was photoshoped in, but then I was looking through my local newspaper today and saw the exact same picture. Pretty funny... I don't think the people at the paper saw this though. I got a good laugh out of it though!
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Studies also confirmed crows were among the species that could also manufacture and then use tools. A crow fashioned a hook out of a paperclip and used it to retrieve food.

That puts them up there with humans and chimps as one of the very few species that can actually make tools.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 11 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Crow-Cam Reveals Tool Use"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More