AW: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...

From: Martin Altmann <altmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Nov 8 21:25:29 2006
Message-ID: <017701c703a6$37f1dac0$4f41fea9_at_name86d88d87e2>

Thanks Mike, Mark and Mark!

Indeed crows, ravens, magpies are very intelligent, do have compared to
mammals a developped idea of numbers and are even able to use tools.
I prefer the nuts-thing, as the stones aren't directly decorative.

I remember a little tropical bird, who accurately sorted by colours
decorates in front of his nest objects like petals, beetle elytrons ect. to
impress the ladies.

Most crazy are the Keas, they easily get bored and like to play half of the
day.

Chirp!
Martin

-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Mike
Bandli
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 9. November 2006 03:03
An: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Betreff: RE: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...

I know for a fact that this is true having witnessed it myself. They do this
mistaking them for nuts (still in the shell). The rocks happen to resemble
the shape and color of a nut, so they will often drop them from high up
hoping that they will shatter. Crows are the main culprit. I have also seen
crows dropping rocks and walnuts onto the road, hoping that cars will run
them over and reveal the meaty interior. Smart creatures! Now if only we
could train some pigeons to go to NWA and hunt for dark colored 'Nuts' in
the sand...

Kind regards,
 
Mike Bandli
www.Astro-Artifacts.com
A Destination For Space Related Artifacts
 

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Martin
Altmann
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 5:52 PM
To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...

Hola list,

I have a stupid question for the ornithologists.
Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones?
At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a
stone hitting the roof and rolling down,
recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit
the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped.
I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused
troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping
stones.
Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour?

Martin


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Received on Wed 08 Nov 2006 09:24:42 PM PST