Animal Behavior: Tool Use By Parrot

[rabid1st]

One of the signs of higher intelligence, according to the humans who came up with the criteria, is tool use. Of course, primates create tools, because primates have hands, so this is a very selective sign of higher intelligence. Real life problem solving is a better sign of intellect, in my opinion, and that is also on display in this video. But, I am always happy to see obviously intelligent species get some due in the scientific community.

Comments

[astitchintime-9.livejournal.com]

Love the moment that he shortens the stick! He's thinking.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Yes! It is just that birds generally are not put in this position, where they require tool use to get what they need. For example, in the wild, if food is just out of reach, a bird would fly off to find a new source of food. So, in order to see this type of tool use a number of adaptations come into play here. The bird conceives of an idea: these are the nuts I want. Then, of another idea, there are no other sources of nuts. And finally, of a plan to get the nuts that it knows it will enjoy.

It is like the cat test where cats were offered food if they pushed the right color button. Since cats hunt by movement, the idea of pushing colored buttons to get food was an entirely new concept to them. Primates, on the other hand, eat fruit and other vegetation and depend on color to tell them about their world. Birds, also do very well in color tests. Cats were thought to be colorblind because they were not motivated to push colored buttons for food. Parrots have an advantage in tool use because they do build nests, so they have some conceptual model for converting the natural world. But I do wonder how whales would ever think of using tools in the typical primate fashion?

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

Figaro is a smart dude with a taste for cashews.

p.s. You'll like this one too:

http://cheezburger.com/44200449

My dog used to do this - it's not just cats.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Yes! Dogs and cats and I think birds understand the concept of a window now. That you can see things that you can't smell. They figure that the dog or cat or bouncy thing must be behind/beyond the window. But then...when they look it is like..."Hmmm...there is nothing there. Let me check if the picture has changed. Weird! Where is the outside part?"

One of my cats really loved downhill skiing. He would always rush to the TV when it was on and try to catch the competitors. And he would look behind the TV for where the little people came from at the start.