Monkeys are neat but birds were dinasaurs

I was reading about the first observations of apes using tools in the wild today, and caught this strange (to me) bit of information: "And other animals such as crows have been seen using them [tools]. But never wild gorillas. "

Looked it up, and i'm impressed with this film. Go crows!

Crows aren't stupid, that's for sure. I'd at least put one up against a cat or dog any day.

Crows are amazin'. Nice book:

Mind of the Raven : Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Bernd Heinrich

"Bernd Heinrich, biology professor at the University of Vermont and author of Ravens in Winter, has spent more than a decade learning the secrets of these giants of the crow family. He has observed startlingly complex activities among ravens, including strong pair-bonding, use of tools, elaborate vocal communication, and even play."

"Toward the end of the book, Heinrich addresses the question implied by the title: To what degree can ravens be said to think? His answer: 'I suspect that the great gulf or discontinuity that exists between us and all other animals is... ultimately less a matter of consciousness than of culture.'"

you totally made every word of that up, Gabe.

wanna freak? read up on

Bower Birds

link

-Ghoti

you guys went to the trouble to make up the quotes AND a website? This is just like Shattered Glass!

No I di-nt! I can be serious, too, ya know.

Them metro Bower birds are a hoot.

Nature: Ravens

Actually only the first time Gorillas have been caught using tools. Chimpanzees have been known tool users for years and they actually make tools as well as just use what is available.

Crows similarly, use and even make tools, which is kind of weird as it puts their brains on a level with ours in that up until about ten years ago, the making or even use of tools was considered *the* defining feature of mankind as opposed to the "lower" animals.

Also interesting is the fact that the Benobo (an offshoot of the chimpanzee family), who are considered to be smarter than the rest of the primates and much closer to us, have never been included inthese tool studies, so who knows what they can do. I would not be surprised if Benobos could type.

yeah. But I said apes.

I don't know about tools, but they sure know how to screw.

Well I was being polite and not mentioning that Bonobos screw at the drop of a hat (or leaf).

This is just one of the many reasons scientists believe these apes are more like us than any other.

Perhaps this is an interesting solution for our forum troubles.

Bonobos use sex as a means of settling disputes!

If one of them is acting like a jerk, several comely females prostate themselves before him and encourage him to copulate with them. Soon enough, Mr. Angry Bonobo has forgotten aaallll about it.

I would volounteer to do the (one or two), females that get angry each year, but we will need an army of sex kittens willing to help out all the angry angry men.

Haven't read this, but heard good things:

"Crows At Your Doorstep" by Grayt Lernedman

"Lernedman, a Bird Psychology professor at the University of Phoenix spent five harrowing years studying the secret Crow society living in a small town north of San Francisco. Professor Grayt tarred and feathered himself and, after spending the previous ten years learning the Crow language, was able to integrate himself into the Crow culture. His theories had previously been scoffed at, but Lernedman's blockbuster conclusion to "Crows At Your Doorstep" proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Crow nation is rapidly implementing a plan to take over the US. Professor Lernedman has been living in Antartica since the publication of his book due to repeated attacks on his person. The SFPD was unable to protect him from the diabolical avians and, as Lernedman commented via SatPhone, 'They are coming for you, too!' This is a must read for anyone who wants to be prepared for the coming war with Corvus brachyrhynchos."

ooh I read that one, that's a good one!

That happens with humans too. Hence the expression "nice guys finish last"