Thursday, January 10, 2013

Birds are smarter than you might think

From AFP, via Repost Us -

 

 
Urban sparrows find new use for cigarette butts (via AFP)
Cigarette butts are widely reviled as an urban nuisance but birds in Mexico City see them as a boon, apparently using them to deter parasites from their nests, scientists say. Local sparrows and finches incorporate smoked cigarette butts in their nests to provide cosy cellulose lining for their chicks…



3 comments:

Mrs Mac said...

Wow this is interesting. My brother lives in Mexico City so I'll send him this!
I am constantly amazed by how intelligent and resourceful birds are.

Thank you for your message and for your kind words about Scooter. Your note was very comforting.

MarkD60 said...

Birds ARE very smart. Some of them. We used to give french fries to pigeons, they'd try to eat them on the spot. But the smarter ching chings would steal them and fly away to a good spot to eat, undisturbed.
But to deduce that pests don't like cigarette filters is very brilliant.

MarkD60 said...

Birds ARE very smart. Some of them. We used to give french fries to pigeons, they'd try to eat them on the spot. But the smarter ching chings would steal them and fly away to a good spot to eat, undisturbed.
But to deduce that pests don't like cigarette filters is very brilliant.