Do Crows Have Counting Abilities?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the social behaviors and intelligence of crows, particularly in relation to their interactions with other species, such as cats. Participants share anecdotes, express curiosity about animal emotions, and speculate on the implications of these interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants share personal stories about crows, highlighting their intelligence and social behaviors.
  • There is speculation about the nature of the relationship between crows and cats, with some suggesting that crows may take advantage of kittens.
  • Participants express curiosity about the emotional capacities of animals, questioning whether crows exhibit compassion or moral behavior.
  • One participant humorously imagines a future where crows develop their own society and governance.
  • Another participant mentions the tool-using abilities of New Caledonian crows, contrasting this with the perceived limitations of cats.
  • There is a discussion about the rarity of crows forming bonds with other species, prompting questions about the motivations behind such behaviors.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the emotional capabilities of crows or the nature of their interactions with other animals. Multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of these behaviors and the anthropomorphism of animal actions.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal anecdotes and speculative reasoning, which may not be universally applicable or scientifically validated. The discussion includes assumptions about animal emotions and social structures that are not resolved.

  • #31
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  • #32
Huckleberry said:
This is interesting. It's not just a crow crossing the street. They are using automobiles to crack nuts that they cannot crack themselves. They drop them in crosswalks and when the cars stop at a red light the crows retrieve their nuts. I wonder how long it will be before they realize that pressing the button makes the light turn red.

Crows also have the intelligence to make their own tools. Here is an example of some crow problem solving abilities. It uses an instrument as a tool, and when that tool is insufficient it modifies the design.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ykewnc0oE&NR=1

Yep, crowbots aren't far behind.

About as long as it takes them to learn how to make a phone call: Bird Brains (somewhere around the middle of the article).

I like how vultures in Zimbabwe obtain food better, though: Mmmm, gazelleburgers!

During the war of liberation in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, a soldier and avid bird watcher observed vultures sitting on barbwire fences next to mine fields waiting for gazelles and other herbivores to wander in and get blown to smithereens.

"It gave them a meal that was already ground up," said Dr Lefebvre.

"The observer mentioned that once in a while a vulture was caught at its own game and got blown up on a mine."

(I wanted to find an article on crow's abilities with numbers, but wouldn't you know it - someone had to call their band "Counting Crows")
 
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