Researchers fitted five Australian magpies with GPS trackers to map their movements, but within an hour the birds began helping one another remove the harnesses, turning a failed tracking experiment into an unexpected observation of cooperation and problem-solving
www.ecoticias.com
Five Australian magpies helped each other remove their GPS harnesses within hours, ending a tracking study and revealing rare cooperative behaviour.

Original title:

Researchers fitted five Australian magpies with GPS trackers to map their movements, but within an hour the birds began helping one another remove the harnesses, turning a failed tracking experiment into an unexpected observation of cooperation and problem-solving

  • arbilp3@aussie.zone
    0·
    28 days ago

    Magpies are the most amazing, intelligent, quirky and funny birds. You’ve inspired me to do a ‘Know your Aussie species’ post on magpies later this week.

    • Zagorath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      0·
      28 days ago

      9 months of the year I absolutely love them. But by the gods do they become evil little demons that last 3.

      • arbilp3@aussie.zone
        0·
        28 days ago

        😆

        You’re seeing it wrong. They are dedicated dads protecting their young. If it wasn’t for their fierceness and cleverness they wouldn’t be such survivors.

        I got swooped last week. Bit of a surprise! I’ve never head my head silently fanned by a bird’s wing before. He only did it once.

        • Zagorath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
          0·
          27 days ago

          “protecting” their young from something that is not a threat and has never done anything threatening. They’re fucking arseholes. The ones that swoop within cities should be relocated far, far away. (Which shouldn’t be too much of a problem, since we’ve been told that it’s only a small minority that actually swoop, and being relocated doesn’t cause them lasting distress.)

          I’m sorry, but I don’t believe someone on their way to work or out for some exercise on the weekend should have to put up with the threat of assault.

          • arbilp3@aussie.zone
            0·
            27 days ago

            Just introduce yourself when you enter their territory, keep talking, once they get used to your voice they’ll know you are no threat.

            OR

            Put an ice cream container on your head 😆 - you can even have fun and paint eyes on the bottom of the container which will ‘look’ up at the maggies

            OR

            Open an umbrella but don’t try and hit or scare them with it because they’ll remember you and swoop you even more (don’t flail your arms or any item - they do remember)

            OR

            Wear a broad-brimmed hat or if you are a cyclist do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8seIxtlOUc

  • Lodespawn@aussie.zoneEnglish
    0·
    29 days ago

    Those researchers are now on the magpie naughty list and will be swooped at every available opportunity.