Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant machine that may form a new bond between animal and human.
This is a hugely entertaining 10 minute video, filmed in March of this year, that explores the amazing intelligence of crows and demonstrates how this intelligence can be used for the benefit of both crows and humans.
Joshua Klein will hack anything that moves -- his list includes "social systems, computer networks, institutions, consumer hardware and animal behavior." His latest project, though charmingly low-tech, has amazing implications for the human-animal interface.
Right now, Klein is finishing up a graduate degree at NYU, while developing mobile/social apps, health care-related systems and other applications that improve people’s lives. He's the author of the novel Roo'd, which was the first modern book (after Frankenstein) to be ported to the iPhone.
"Klein envisions a new symbiotic relationship between these intelligent birds and the humans that encroach on their habitat. ... Why not turn a longstanding rivalry between man and crow into something that profits both species?"
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Crows in the northwestern U.S. (a blend[verification needed] of Corvus brachyrhynchos and Corvus caurinus) show modest linguistic capabilities and the ability to relay information over great distances, live in complex, hierarchic societies involving hundreds of individuals with various "occupations", and have an intense rivalry with the area's less socially advanced ravens[citation needed]. Wild hooded crows in Israel have learned to use bread crumbs for bait-fishing. Crows will engage in a kind of mid-air jousting, or air-"chicken" to establish pecking order. One species, the New Caledonian Crow, has recently been intensively studied because of its ability to manufacture and use its own tools in the day-to-day search for food, including dropping seeds into a heavy trafficked street and waiting for a car to crush them open. On October 5, 2007, researchers from the University of Oxford, England presented data acquired by mounting tiny video cameras on the tails of New Caledonian Crows. It turned out that they use a larger variety of tools than previously known, plucking, smoothing and bending twigs and grass stems to procure a variety of foodstuffs.
by Anexplorer (PM , CC ) on Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 7:26 AM
ANd just think if humans could actually train crows to aid them.. MAybe then we could move on up to the human chain and train some of them wow wouldn't that be exciting You have a nice day okey dokey. Gloria
by Anexplorer (PM , CC ) on Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 1:26 PM
Anexplorer, My dad always told us kids ('us kids' is very pennsylvanian along with yous guys)that the reason a crow can eat in the road and never get hit was because there was one in the tree that would shout "Car Car" when one came. Maybe that's true? Anyways, I love the vending machine and the idea that they may have a 'job' to perform once we figure it out.
by Anexplorer (PM , CC ) on Wednesday May 14, 2008 @ 10:24 PM
Anexplorer:
I have always had a serious fascination for Crows, and there was never any question in my mind that they are VERY intelligent birds. Interesting Post. Thank you.
I wanted to comment b4 watching the video so as not to skew my remarks. I had a few crows as pets when I was a kid and my grandmother had one as well, for years. They are wonderful wonderful pets with the ability to talk. My grandmothers crow would call her GRAND MAAAAA when he was hungry. He lived in a cage made of chicken wire and the cage had no door yet he preferred to stay in for the most part....they are very very curious and always seem to have a "Plan" of some sorts in mind. If you look up and see a crow in a tree, you can rest assured he is looking back far more intently than u at him. The crow I had for about two years died from lead poisoning from getting into a can of white paint. Coincidental his name was whitey...that was sixty years or so ago...thanks for stirring the wonderful memory...now I'll go and watch the video... Pop'
by lalepop' (PM , CC ) on Thursday May 15, 2008 @ 3:19 AM
Hi Scratch,
I recall seeing a flock of crows attacking a large horned owl while out for a walk one afternoon. The owl was moulting and unable to fly and the flock took turns nipping at him as they swooped past.
It reminded me of a wolf attack the way it was so obviously co ordinated.
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Crows in the northwestern U.S. (a blend[verification needed] of Corvus brachyrhynchos and Corvus caurinus) show modest linguistic capabilities and the ability to relay information over great distances, live in complex, hierarchic societies involving hundreds of individuals with various "occupations", and have an intense rivalry with the area's less socially advanced ravens[citation needed]. Wild hooded crows in Israel have learned to use bread crumbs for bait-fishing. Crows will engage in a kind of mid-air jousting, or air-"chicken" to establish pecking order. One species, the New Caledonian Crow, has recently been intensively studied because of its ability to manufacture and use its own tools in the day-to-day search for food, including dropping seeds into a heavy trafficked street and waiting for a car to crush them open. On October 5, 2007, researchers from the University of Oxford, England presented data acquired by mounting tiny video cameras on the tails of New Caledonian Crows. It turned out that they use a larger variety of tools than previously known, plucking, smoothing and bending twigs and grass stems to procure a variety of foodstuffs.
Gloria
Really interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Eric
I was aware of the intelligence of crows from various sources - this was a good recap.
very interesting.... I think the crows might be smarter than people
At least they seem to pick up after themselves!
My dad always told us kids ('us kids' is very pennsylvanian along with yous guys)that the reason a crow can eat in the road and never get hit was because there was one in the tree that would shout "Car Car" when one came. Maybe that's true?
Anyways, I love the vending machine and the idea that they may have a 'job' to perform once we figure it out.
Maybe the crows could work together with those big machines that "walk" on the beach and clean along with them.
Good post.
That's too funny Bohemian! I remember those.
I have always had a serious fascination for Crows, and there was never any question in my mind that they are VERY intelligent birds. Interesting Post. Thank you.
TallPockets has eaten the proverbial, "CROW".
FAR more often than he cares to ADMIT.
~SIGH~ GRIN.
My BEST --
One Black Crowe short of a GOOD band yours,
TallPockets.
I wanted to comment b4 watching the video so as not to skew my remarks. I had a few crows as pets when I was a kid and my grandmother had one as well, for years. They are wonderful wonderful pets with the ability to talk. My grandmothers crow would call her GRAND MAAAAA when he was hungry. He lived in a cage made of chicken wire and the cage had no door yet he preferred to stay in for the most part....they are very very curious and always seem to have a "Plan" of some sorts in mind. If you look up and see a crow in a tree, you can rest assured he is looking back far more intently than u at him. The crow I had for about two years died from lead poisoning from getting into a can of white paint. Coincidental his name was whitey...that was sixty years or so ago...thanks for stirring the wonderful memory...now I'll go and watch the video...
I recall seeing a flock of crows attacking a large horned owl while out for a walk one afternoon. The owl was moulting and unable to fly and the flock took turns nipping at him as they swooped past.
It reminded me of a wolf attack the way it was so obviously co ordinated.
Not that that's anything to crow about!
Hope you enjoyed the video.