Speaking of magpies

[Susanne Gardiner <>]

Thanks for that information.... I was promptly asked today on flickr if my magpie picture (immature Australian Magpie) could be used for a collection around the topic of the magpie and the mirror. I told them about the different species.

This is the were they are collecting the information - looks like they don't discriminate between any birds with "magpie" in the name.

http://www.nowpublic.com/strange/magpies-can-recognize-themselves-mirror

 

 

I can also faintly remember, that decades ago (well that's what it feels like), someone found out the same thing about pidgeons.... some "dirty" pidgeon tried to clean itself after seeing its reflection in a mirror.

Cheers, Susanne

 

--- On Fri, 22/8/08, Bron King <> wrote:

From: Bron King <>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Speaking of magpies
To:
Received: Friday, 22 August, 2008, 11:33 AM

Heard on ABC program The World Today Thurs 21st http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/ (listen to last item)
an item about magpies, purported to be of the Australian variety, being able to recognise
themselves in a mirror, thus proving advanced intelligence. This was based on work by Helmut Prior et al
The only problem is he'd studied Pica pica, not our own warbling flyers.

http://0-biology.plosjournals.org.ilsprod.lib.neu.edu/perlserv/?SESSID=289c5f7531b07d242819badd069ab181&request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0060202

As I told them gently in the feedback it's rather like an Austrian winning a gold medal
in synchronised swimming which an Australian brings home to the trophy cabinet! (or something to that effect)

Bronwyn






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