Magpies Have Outwitted Scientists by Helping Each Other Remove Tracking Devices (abc.net.au) 55
An anonymous reader shares a report: When we attached tiny, backpack-like tracking devices to five Australian magpies for a pilot study, we didn't expect to discover an entirely new social behaviour rarely seen in birds. Our goal was to learn more about the movement and social dynamics of these highly intelligent birds, and to test these new, durable and reusable devices. Instead, the birds outsmarted us. As our new research paper explains, the magpies began showing evidence of cooperative "rescue" behaviour to help each other remove the tracker. While we're familiar with magpies being intelligent and social creatures, this was the first instance we knew of that showed this type of seemingly altruistic behaviour: helping another member of the group without getting an immediate, tangible reward. As academic scientists, we're accustomed to experiments going awry in one way or another. Expired substances, failing equipment, contaminated samples, an unplanned power outage -- these can all set back months (or even years) of carefully planned research. For those of us who study animals, and especially behaviour, unpredictability is part of the job description. This is the reason we often require pilot studies.
Re:Are magpies smarter than people? (Score:5, Funny)
They don't want to be tracked.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Are magpies smarter than people? (Score:4, Funny)
The magpie that the others don't like still have the tracker.
Re: Are magpies smarter than people? (Score:2)
Yeah I was being a bit of an ass, but thinking about it this could help scientists identify the unliked bird and also what makes this bird different enough for the other birds to not like it.
Where have I seen this before... (Score:1, Flamebait)
an invasive alien species could trick enough humans onto their side so that we collectively keep each other's tracking backpacks on
Even though all studies ever done show the backpack has no effect, you must keep the backpack on for your own protection because Science!
Re: Are magpies smarter than people? (Score:3)
I could point to minimum wage laws or environmental regulations for example behavior.
I'm not sure how those examples lead to an increase in tracking. But I'd be happy to see you enlighten us.
You could have used a better example. Such as FATCA [wikipedia.org] and the logical link would have been clear. But then since that was bipartisan legislation, it couldn't be used to fling political poo at the opposition.
Re: (Score:1)
Not necessarily tracking in particular, but any activity that is detrimental to the individual.
FATCA involves tracking but wouldn't negatively affect 99%+ of the population - it would actually benefit the majority who aren't moving large sums of money internationally but could benefit from a fairer tax system.
The EARN IT act involves surveillance that would affect everyone.
Re: (Score:2)
Here have an iPhone 14 or a Samsung S22.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure an invasive alien species could trick enough humans onto their side so that we collectively keep each other's tracking backpacks on
Google already managed it. So did Apple.
Re:i know why... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Happened to read the other day a short story by Mark Twain titled "What Stumped The Blue Jays". There's four of them outside my windows as I write. They are cousins to the magpie and very intelligent.
These are Australian magpies and so unlikely to be closely related to northern hemisphere species. They're not corvids but classified as "a large song bird" in my bird book.They just have a vaguely similar black and white coloring to the European magpies. For Australians, they're actually a large variety of butcher bird (first cousins) and sort of second cousins to the currawongs.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Just FYI, these aren't your northern hemisphere magpies. This [youtu.be] is a magpie.
Re: (Score:2)
Here kitty, kitty... (Score:4, Interesting)
Evidently, these scientists have never observed how magpies deal with a cat trying to climb a tree that one pair of them is nesting in.
Re:Here kitty, kitty... (Score:5, Interesting)
Oh Australian Maggies get straight up diabolical if they think your a threat to a nest. A female who thinks your after her eggs or babies will straight up try and kill you.
Generally the rule with magpie swooping is, if it comes from behind you, its a male showboating to impress the females. Generally you can turn around and charge at it, and it'll get the hint and back off. Wooing the ladies isn't worth fighitng with a 6ft tall super-predator.
If its a female, then she means business. She will come from the front, and she will go for your eyes. This is *dangerous*. You cover your face and run away. Eventually she'll conclude your far enough away. But if you return she will resume her attack. Do not fuck with an angry female magpie.
The males though? Just fancy boys showing off. Shoo it away.
Re: (Score:2)
There's also a pair of pigeons that nest every year in the bike shed closest to my apartment. The female is in the shed most of the time and doe
Re: (Score:2)
If its a female, then she means business.
The males though? Just fancy boys showing off. Shoo it away.
So, kinda like humans ...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Oh definately Magpies are intelligent little guys. Tool useage and all that. I think one of the funniest things I saw was when I was working at my local university, there was a gang of male magpies that would hang out at the campus tavern and beg for food, crisps and the like. But just before mating season a new female magpie came into the area, and the boys where all *very* keen on mating with her. So they started swooping people trying to show off. But if you'd have crisps they alternate between swooping
Re: (Score:2)
Oh Australian Maggies get straight up diabolical if they think your a threat to a nest. A female who thinks you're after her eggs or babies will straight up try and kill you.
Of course, this is Australia. EVERYTHING is trying to kill you.
Re: (Score:2)
smart (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
I put my tracker on a koala, and now google thinks I haven't left my home in 2 years.
They don't want bugs (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I know a Magpie who uses Internet. I should ask her, but she might attack me. :P
Re: (Score:1)
It is more than that. I have a cat that 'rescues' other cats from their collars and takes pride (he presents the cat to me sometimes) in making sure all cats around him are naked and 'free'. I am sure it is a mix of pride in sharing knowledge and concern for their welfare.
Re: (Score:2)
So I have a siamese cat that refuses to wear a collar. We got him when he was just over a year old and tried to get him to wear a collar. *chuckles* he acted as if we had just put a noose on him and he was choking to death (it wasn't on that tight). It was a spectacle to witness. I'd do it again for a video but clearly the cat would disagree.
We got a 12 week old silver tabby for the siamese to play with, as our older female brown tabby was not going to play with anyone ever and boo to you siamese. When we p
Other point of view (Score:4, Funny)
Cumbersome Harness Design Failure (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
And that's probably the trick. Make them want it, like a normie human wants a smart phone. Those kind of birds like shiny objects. If it was an attractive enough tracking device, they'd probably even try to steal it off each other.
Grooming (Score:5, Interesting)
This seems to me to be basically a form of grooming. Lots of animals engage in mutual grooming, where each animal removes parasites from others that they can't reach themselves. If they see these tracking devices as in the same category as parasites, they'll absolutely help each other by removing them.
Re: (Score:2)
Being out of mod points all I can do is agree.
Lt. Magpie Worf says: (Score:2)
The Men may have superior technology, but they have neither honor nor courage. That is our greatest advantage.
Rule Number 1, Nature is out to get you. (Score:2)
The first rule of behavioral science is to assume the subjects are exhibiting unanticipated behavior, specifically including actively subverting your experiment in ways you thought were impossible.
The magpies (Score:2)
Magpie doing Dark Helmet. (Score:2)
FOOLED YOU!!!
Easier to study pilots (Score:2)
At least they will pass the T test in Australia.
(tea test)
Queue the lawyers (Score:2)
This couild be useful (Score:4, Funny)
You are feeling outsmarted? Imagine Anakin! (Score:2)
Magpie: "Hold my beer!"
Australia? (Score:2)
I'm guessing magpies since the lovebirds and cockatiels were able to completely evade the researchers?
Wait, were these 'researchers" actually coyotes?
Breaking News! (Score:2)
So they the do it because they thought (Score:2)
it was a parasite?
Magpie intelligence anecdote (Score:2)
About 18 months ago I was swooped by a magpie when I was walking the dog.It was a direct, heavy impact that would have drawn blood if not for my hat.
Being a sensible, mature middle aged man I saw the bird watching me from a tree after the attack and decided to throw some sticks at it to show my displeasure.
To be clear, I was not intending to injure it. The sticks were at the top of their trajectory and barely moving when they got close. The bird jumped to another branch once or twice when t
They're smarter than anyone ever realized... (Score:1)