We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that she discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds gives many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and unexpected.
Great discussion. Deborah > On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating. > Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a > long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a creative > kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also turn > objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder what > other species/families might engage in play. Warblers? Gnatcatchers? It's > hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. > > Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
