Pigeons Smarter Than 3 Year Old Humans ..

[TAWhatley]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefai...?se=yahoorefer


Terry

[pigeonmama]

Well, everyone on this group already knew that, didn't we And we didn't need lots of money, scientists, equipment, time and studies to figure that out. Guess that makes us all smarter than the people who come up with these studies.
Daryl

[John_D]

Wonder how they decided the pigeon could recognize itself.

I tried my current resident with a mirror a few days ago. At first he stared, then he walked up to it, shoved his chest against it and tried to peck it. After a couple of tries he walked away, then came back to the mirror. He looked into it for a few seconds, watching his movements being reflected, then he looked around back of the mirror. After that he ignored it.

John

[TheSnipes]

Originally Posted by pigeonmama

Well, everyone on this group already knew that, didn't we And we didn't need lots of money, scientists, equipment, time and studies to figure that out. Guess that makes us all smarter than the people who come up with these studies.
Daryl

I'd have told them so, too, for a lot less $.

[MaryOfExeter]

Pigeons are one of only 6 species (the only bird too) in the world capable of recognizing themselves in the mirror. Or at least as far as we know. I don't know how they can accurately test that. I know some animals like parakeets and caged birds will act like they see another bird...but what if an animal doesn't show anything towards it? Like it's just too lazy to do anything

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by MaryOfExeter

Pigeons are one of only 6 species (the only bird too) in the world capable of recognizing themselves in the mirror. Or at least as far as we know. I don't know how they can accurately test that. I know some animals like parakeets and caged birds will act like they see another bird...but what if an animal doesn't show anything towards it? Like it's just too lazy to do anything

Hi Mary, all...


Yeahhh...

And to me, I think that electing that criteria as being a global attribute of 'Intelligence' is over-rated, or negelcts so much else, too much else.


Ultimately, the criteria for attributions of 'intelligence' when in the contexts of these 'studys' or a lot of other margainal and 'iffy' 'science', seems to be about the vanity and banal projections of the not very aware or experienced people who do the 'studys'.


Oye...


Glad any time Pigeons get 'positive' Press of course..!




Phil
l v

[maryjane]

Lol, I don't about this....when Gonzo was a youngster we had a full-length mirror leaning up against the wall and he would fight that mirror pigeon madly for hours.

Of course, he would also go behind the mirror to see where the other pigeon was hiding, so that's pretty smart! Maybe Gonzo's as smart as a two and a half year old instead.

[pdpbison]

If people did not grow up with mirrors in the bathroom and elsewhere, and with having their picture taken, now that I think about it, THEY would not 'recognize' themselves in a reflection or in an image/picture or video either.

If anything,it is amazing a Pigeon would, or anyone would.


Peoples or groups who did not posess mirrors in olden times or even since, did NOT and do not recognize themselves in a Mirror, or in pictures and so on, anyway, so it is a totally bogus criteria from the get-go.


None ( or few, if any ) of these 'scientists' would immediately recognise their own image or reflection had they not grown up doing so by endless opportunity and familiarity,and being in a culture which is familiar with this.


Oye...


Yeeeeeeesh...


So, far as I know, Pigeons by this criteria, are 'smarter' than people then, and not merely on par with a 3 year old who already HAS seen themselves many times where they had cues and others present to verify it is them.

Were honest Science to have anything to do with it..!


Love,


Phil
l v

[george simon]

Well back when I was racing using the widowhood system we used a trick to motivate the widowhood cock.We put a mirror in his nestbox he would see his image and get very agitated thinking that another bird was trying to take over his nest box,we then box him up and shiped him to the race. The image in the mind of the bird was I must get home and throw that intruder out of my nestbox you can bet many a race has been won by a cock that did not see himself in that mirror but did see an intruder.These scientists get goverment grants in many cases just a waste of our tax dollars. .GEORGE

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by george simon

Well back when I was racing using the widowhood system we used a trick to motivate the widowhood cock.We put a mirror in his nestbox he would see his image and get very agitated thinking that another bird was trying to take over his nest box,we then box him up and shiped him to the race. The image in the mind of the bird was I must get home and throw that intruder out of my nestbox you can bet many a race has been won by a cock that did not see himself in that mirror but did see an intruder.These scientists get goverment grants in many cases just a waste of our tax dollars. .GEORGE

Good mentions George...!


Far as I ever saw here, the Pigeons regarded the Bird-in-the-Mirror, as someone else and not themselves.


Though, with experience, I am sure some or all would figure it out and know it was their reflection...but, I have not seen any get to that point around here.