What Parrots Tell Us About the Evolution of Birds 62
GrrlScientist writes "One of the most contentious issues among scientists who study the evolution of birds is identifying precisely when the modern birds (Neornithes) first appeared. This is due to conflicts between the fossil record and molecular dating methodologies. But there is another way to address this discrepancy. Because the evolution of parrots and cockatoos reflects the evolution of the birds (Aves) themselves, studying the psittaciformes offers compelling insights into this mystery. Further, because psittaciformes generally are not migratory and because they tend to occupy discrete ranges, their ancient patterns of diversification are easier to discern than for many other taxonomic orders of birds that have dispersed widely."
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Sounds like a nice chip. WTF does it have to do with parrots unless you are saying that parrots have this chip in them? This would explain a parrots ability to mimic speech and sounds. What else in in a parrot that will allow it to digitize audio, store it, and play it back for up to 80 years existing literally on bird feed?
They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Interesting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_(parrot)
They are probably the smartest non-mammal creatures around.
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Octopuses [wikipedia.org] might disagree.
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:4, Funny)
So would any animal that doesn't shit in its own water dish.
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So would any animal that doesn't shit in its own water dish.
I'm not really sure that octopuses need a water dish. They kind of live in it and stuff.
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I spat scotch on my laptop when I read your post :-)
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Interesting)
It's also how they spread good intestinal bacteria among the flock. If we are forced to hand-feed a parrot chick from day one, we mix some of the mother's feces in the formula for the first week or so. Survival rate improves dramatically, although feeding a bird the size of your little fingernail is still iffy (parakeets and bourkes).
If the recent information on termites is correct, sharing feces may be one strategy for forming societies.
Finally, if you really want to get freaked out, read about treating intestinal infections with feces transplants.
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Parrots love to be on trees, the higher the tree the happier they are. They tend to climb as up as they can as part of their instinct (maybe to avoid predators or for having a better view). I have seen this behavior in their natural habitat (Peru's jungle).
I don't see how parrots could eat their poo unless they can reach it, and in their natural habitat it's kinda difficult because the ground in not only way down, but also covered with meters of dead leaves that will drain t
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The one I was talking about was "Amazonica Amazonica", mainly found in Amazon Jungle (Peru and Brasil). Luckily my bird doesn't like targeting humans with her poop
It's funny to see how, like humans, our feathery friends have different behavior according to the ecosystem where they live.
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Insightful)
One of the reasons I believe parrots have such a remarkable intelligence is that they live in an ecosystem bloated of food. I live in Peru and have seen the Amazon Jungle and you won't believe how rich it can be.
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevant_history/2008/12/octopus-watch-tv-have-no-personalities.html [typepad.com]
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Insightful)
You've finally solved the problem. Intelligence is the result of survival boredom.
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Horse....Cart (Score:2)
Intelligence is the result of survival boredom.
Isn't intelligence a prerequisite for boredom, and therefore can not be a result of boredom?
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But society and hence technology is undeniably the result of "survival boredom". Once we got that agricultural thing down, there was no turning back.
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Anyone that has spent much time around parrots and has a basic grasp of evolutionary theory will feel the same way.
They basically just play, eat, rest, and then repeat. When they eat much more is wasted then is eaten. Seems like they maybe get 30% of the food down. Hardly a recipe for survival in any challenging environment.
Makes me wonder if humans evolved intelligence as a survival mechanism or because our ancient ancestors lived in a land of plenty and intelligence followed.
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Informative)
I have an African Grey and a heavy duty Kenmore vacuum. I know of what you speak. We acquired this bird by agreeing to babysit it for 3 days.. that was 20 months ago. He is now part of the family of 3 humans, 5 cats (don't ask) and two goldfish. He has learned every fsckin' ringtone he's ever heard, how to count to five and appropriate use of the terms:
Want more.
Good shit Maynard. (when he really like what you just gave him)
Good morning.
Night Night little buddy.
See ya later (when I put on my coat)
Whatcha doin? (When a cat comes near)
a human laugh.
a human meow.
a cat meow (different depending on the cat he's talking to and matching that cat's voice.)
three of the cats names. (One of the cats is named Michelle and he's called her "Shell-bird" a few times which shows that he is able to work with language a bit. We call him Smokey-bird and hey-bird and he seems to think that "bird" is a compliment.)
He likes to play making phone calls. He'll do a ring tone, say hello, and then wait and say things like "ok", "Sure". "Uh-huh". "Yeah," say numbers (he likes the sound of "zero-six-zero") and then say "Ok, bye" and then beep (sound of the phone hanging up.)
He constantly makes various sounds of water, microwave beeps, and fart/burp noises (again, don't ask) and complex whistle noises. He's also damn good doing whistle riffs to blues and Grateful Dead. We have a DirecTV basic box without a TV on it connected to computer speakers so he can listen to rock in the living room where his cage is (XM Deep Tracks.) He's blessed with a nice view of Tulilip Bay and lots of wildlife.
I'm working now on trying to teach him Morse code ;)
These are very smart animals. About what you would expect from a three year old human... and about the same emotional development. They are a lot of maintenance though. You have to keep getting them new toys and new tastes to experience. You have to spend at least 5 hours a day with them in physical/mental activity. They do show love and loyalty but can be fickle as hell. They know when they are fucking with you and seem to enjoy it (actually using an evil laugh. My wife says it's my laugh but I don't think I sound like that.)
I need to research more on training/teaching him but the details are scarce on-line. I enjoy my time with Smokey and do feel love for him. I hope that I find a good home for him one day as he should outlive me by a few decades. If any other slashdotters have Greys, please email me with tips/stories/support. My email addy is in the clear above.
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Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:4, Interesting)
Like the OP there have been parrots in our family for years, my parents still have a cockatoo that they aquired when I was ten (fourty years ago). I agree wholeheartedly that parrots will use phrases in the correct context, some examples...
"G'Day mate" when someone comes in the front door (but not when they leave).
"Scratch cocky" if you STOP scratching him under the chin.
It may just be the particular birds I've had experience with but it seems to me the larger parrots (cockatoos, galahs, etc) are smater than the smaller ones (budgies, cockatiels). Parrots aren't the only smart birds, another Attenbouogh clip shows [google.com] crows are "street wise".
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In my experience budgies are rather clever too. It's just that they're stubborn (i.e. typically not inquisitive), often disinterested in "people stuff" and of course their little heads run at speeds where humans must seem very very slow indeed. And they usually die rather young compared to larger parrots (old age takes them between 7 and 10 years) so there's not so much that a single budgie will learn in its lifetime.
They do have lovely singing voices though compared to any other parrot. And they're quite r
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It's not just size -- budgies are smarter than cockatiels, in my experience (having owned both). The budgie I have now is not yet six, and she has always been smarter than the cockatiel I had that made it to eighteen, so age is not always enough to offset general stupidity. Still, longevity does factor into it -- even the most intelligent squid isn't going to be able to accomplish much (individually) with a three year life expectancy. I marvel at the evolutionary pressures that would make them live fast and
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The cockatoo loves TV. He will watch Barney the dinosaur until my eyes and ears bleed, and hates raptors on Animal Planet. Strangely, he likes Corwin Presents, except for that episode with the anaconda.
He hates the weather channel, too, but he was rescued Hurricane Andrew. Not a fan of big winds.
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:5, Interesting)
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Anyway the light thing in your post reminded me of of a magpie that hangs out in my garden, I moved into a new house recently
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On the vein of smart animals, last year I purchased a bug zapper (yes, I know, you are better off buying one for your neighbors than for yourself, but there's no arguing with the missus). The first night, it started zapping bugs and attracting June Bugs. The second night, jus
Re:They could also tell a lot about (Score:4, Interesting)
That's really neat.
It makes me think of an interesting theory proposed by scientists - that intelligence is partly social.
We learn off other people, so if you're surrounded by people smarter than you, then you're likely exposed to more concepts, and thus can better understand how those concepts relate to the world and other concepts.
What I wonder is, if you could train a small community of animals to think in a more intelligent way, would their children be smarter? Would you kickstart an evolutionary boost to their intelligence?
If you taught an entire colony of parrots to count to 10, would that become knowledge that future generations would retain?
I'm curious where the limits of intelligence are for such a tiny brain - and I wonder how far intellect could be pushed for a larger animal, such as an elephant.
They do say elephants never forget...
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It makes me think of an interesting theory proposed by scientists - that intelligence is partly social.
There's a word for this, originally from South Africa but it is now gaining traction in the global technology community.
Ubuntu.
Sort of like "a human is a human through his interactions with other humans."
Atendea-quel winya!
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Re:But, but, I thought they were intelligently... (Score:4, Insightful)
You know, the only reason the whole "Intelligent Design" thing is an issue at all, is because people keep bringing it up.
Resist the urge to mention it - even to mock it, and it will just go away quietly. But bring it up every time someone mentions the word "evolution", and you'll have people believing it's a serious theory - even have people believing they believe in it, even when no mainstream branch of Christianity does.
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I thought the current pope quite liked the idea, and *he* never makes mistakes (its in the job description).
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'creationism' is usually shorthand for Young Earth Creationism; i.e. God made all the animals magically pop into existance in their modern forms and allowing for variations like dog breeds but NOT allowing dinosaurs to evolve into birds. It's a way fringe belief with a few very vocal supporters.
The last I heard the Catholic church was old earth/not completely loony creationist - God created the animals and evolution was his tool. No denial of fossil or genetic evidence required. The Catholic church is surpr
Parrot? (Score:1, Funny)
i'm obligated. (Score:1, Funny)
is that an african or a european psittaciformes?
What they tell us? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What they tell us? (Score:4, Funny)
Are you suggesting parrots and consultants share a common ancestor?
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Of course they do. The difference is that parrots have evolved enormously since then ;)
SB
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Your comment was hilarious and enjoyed reading it. I can't just imagine your comparison of a parrot with a consultant. I really enjoyed reading it Ha! Ha!
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Julissa
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What they tell us (Score:1)
Re:Evolution is such a hoax. (Score:4, Informative)
So as to not waste your time the above link goes to: "Biblical Correctness Ministries"
Giving scientific evidence to prove a literal six-day creation, Dr. Kent Hovind refutes evolution's proposition that the earth has evolved over billions of years.
'Nuf said?
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Alright, who left the damned troll-flap open?
Well, if they could speak... (Score:2)
Polly wants a cracker!
Not What My Parrot Told Me... (Score:1)
The real question is crackers and rum? (Score:2)
I mean, what possible ecological imperative would cause parrots to evolve so as to want to eat crackers and rum, and cause them to be attractive to pirates?
mark, arrrhhhh, matey
What do they tell us about the evolution of birds? (Score:1)