Crows understand water displacement at the level of a small child: Show causal understanding of a 5- to 7-year-old child

Date:

March 26, 2014

Source:

PLOS

Summary:

New Caledonian crows may understand how to displace water to receive a reward, with the causal understanding level of a 5- to 7-year-old child. Understanding causal relationships between actions is a key feature of human cognition. However, the extent to which non-human animals are capable of understanding causal relationships is not well understood. Scientists used the Aesop's fable riddle -- in which subjects drop stones into water to raise the water level and obtain an out-of reach-reward -- to assess New Caledonian crows' causal understanding of water displacement.

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RSPB reveals top ten birds in South Devon gardens

By HEHannahFinch | Posted: March 27, 2014

MORE than 11,000 Devon birdwatchers took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

The survey, the largest of its kind in the world, involves people counting the different birds that come to their gardens in one hour any time over the last weekend of January.

These are the results in South Devon:

House sparrows, blue tits and blackbirds all feature high on the lists.

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GIB conservation plan caught in red-tapism

Jaipur/Jaisalmer: The state bird conservation plan is caught up in bureaucratic red-tapism. The ministry of environment & forest (MoEF) recently wrote to the state government for its consent on ex situ captive breeding programme for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

According to official sources in the forest department, "The file is still under consideration. The Union ministry has put a clause that if Rajasthan agrees to ex-situ captive breeding programme, the state would have to contribute 50% of the expenses or else they would take the project to Maharashtra or Gujarat. Since this would need to be processed with several departments including finance, the matter is likely to take shape only after the elections."

On the flip side Gujarat and Maharashtra are keen to set up a conservation breeding project if Rajasthan would loan birds to it, which was found unacceptable to Jaipur based foresters. "The GIB has been pushed to a 'near extinction' status as per science. GIB's captive breeding programme is need of the hour. Dr. Vibhu Prakash's example of breeding vultures in captivity at Pinjore is already available, globally supported and can be adopted here," said Harsh Vardhan who has been championing the cause of the bird since 1980.

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BIRD RESCUE: Hawk rescued after found tangled, hanging from light pole

ATONVILLE, Fla. —An employee at a health center called for help on Monday when she saw a bird tangled in fishing line and hanging upside down from a light pole.

An employee at a health center called for help on Monday when she saw a bird tangled in fishing line and hanging upside down from a light pole.

Officials at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey rushed to a parking lot on Kennedy Boulevard to rescue the hawk.

"I felt horrible for him," said witness Cheryl Cyr. "The poor thing couldn't do anything but cry."

Audubon workers were able to get the hawk down safely.

After determining it was unharmed, the bird was set free.

Officials urge people to dispose of their fishing line properly to ensure the safety of all wildlife.

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Police hunt killer responsible for beheading 15 flamingos as they slept at Frankfurt Zoo

The brutal killing of 15 flamingos, some of which were beheaded as they slept, is being investigated by German police.

WARNING: Some readers may find the images below disturbing.

Nine of the birds, known for their long necks, long legs and bright pink plumage, were found dead in their enclosure at Frankfurt Zoo on Friday, and another six were found the following day. 

On both occasions the killer, or killers, struck twice at night. Some of the birds were stabbed to death while others had their heads cut or torn off.

According to reports in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung police are now examining video footage from the zoo in an attempt to identify the person responsible.

The newspaper reports that very little blood was found at the scene, prompting investigators to suggest that the birds may have been stolen from the zoo and then killed before their bodies returned.

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Probe after birds of prey found

Police suspect the buzzard and red kites were victims of criminal activity

POLICE are investigating the deaths of birds of prey after six bodies were found over the last week.

Five red kites and a buzzard were found at various locations in Conon Bridge and Muir of Ord and officers suspect they were unlawfully killed.

Enquiries are being carried out into the deaths, which were reported between the 17th and 24th March.

DI Scott McDonald, who is leading the investigation, said at this time it was unclear as to what caused the deaths.

"Given all the circumstances and the close proximity of them being found we must assume at this stage some form of criminality," he added.

"I would ask anyone who has been working on the land or using the area for recreational purposes to contact us if they have seen anything suspicious that may be linked to this incident."

If anyone finds any further dead birds in the area they are asked to make a note of its location and inform the police and not to touch or attempt to recover any dead bird.

Anyone who has any information about the incident can contact Police on 101.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News/Probe-after-birds-of-prey-found-25032014.htm

ODFW plans hazing of fish-eating coastal birds

Driving at cormorants in boats, firing small pyrotechnics

By KTVZ.COM news sources

POSTED: 9:33 AM PDT March 24, 2014 

TILLAMOOK, Ore. -

Hazing of double-crested cormorants is set to begin soon in several areas along the Oregon coast in an attempt to improve survival of juvenile salmon and steelhead as they migrate from inland waters to the Pacific, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Monday

Double-crested cormorants are large, fish-eating waterbirds that occur throughout Oregon, and are particularly prevalent in the state’s estuaries during April through September. Research suggests that cormorants may eat significant numbers of juvenile salmon and steelhead that migrate to the ocean during this time.

To reduce threat to young fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with several nonprofit and local governmental organizations to haze cormorants in six coastal estuaries over the next two to four months.

Hazing will take place as early as March 27 and continue in most areas through May 31 in the Nehalem, Nestucca, and Coquille river estuaries and in Tillamook and Alsea bays. The program could continue through July 31 in Astoria, where the Clatsop County Fisheries Project manages a salmon rearing program.

Hazing generally will take place during the morning and evening hours, when cormorants feed most actively, in the bays and estuaries where young fish tend to linger as they make the transition from fresh to salt water.

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