Joshua Klein: The intelligence of crows

How Crows Adapt to Urban Environments

Introduction to the Vending Machine for Crows

• The speaker introduces a unique concept: a vending machine designed for crows, sparked by a conversation at a cocktail party about the nuisance of crows.

• A friend expressed frustration over crows in his yard, suggesting they should be eradicated. The speaker countered that training them could be more beneficial.

• After years of research on crows, encouraged by his wife, the speaker decided to build the vending machine as a way to foster positive interactions with these birds.

Understanding Synanthropic Species

• The discussion highlights synanthropic species—animals like rats and cockroaches that thrive in human environments—contrasting their survival with species facing extinction.

• These species have adapted remarkably well to urban life, often becoming pests due to human attempts at extermination, which inadvertently encourages their adaptability.

Crow Intelligence and Adaptation

• Crows are not just surviving; they are thriving globally except in extreme climates. Their populations are booming alongside urbanization.

• Bird counts suggest exponential growth in crow numbers as they adapt uniquely to urban settings.

Case Study: Betty the New Caledonian Crow

• An example is given of Betty, who demonstrated problem-solving skills by bending wire into a hook without prior experience or instruction.

• This showcases crows' intelligence levels comparable to primates and highlights their ability to learn and innovate independently.

Social Behavior and Memory of Crows

• Anecdotes illustrate how crows can recognize individuals who have interacted with them negatively, leading students at University of Washington to disguise themselves while studying them.

• This behavior emphasizes the long-term memory capabilities of crows and suggests caution when dealing with them.

Urban Adaptations: Innovative Feeding Strategies

• In Japan, crows have developed techniques for cracking nuts using traffic lights as tools—a clear indication of their adaptability in urban environments.

Crows and Their Cultural Adaptation

Learning from Environment and Peers

• Crows exhibit cultural adaptation, learning not only from their parents but also from peers and even enemies. This adaptability is crucial for survival in changing environments.

• Research indicates that crows can quickly adjust to new challenges and resources, a skill particularly beneficial in urban settings.

The Vending Machine Experiment

• An innovative experiment involved creating a vending machine specifically designed for crows, utilizing Skinnerian training methods to shape their behavior through four stages.

• Initially, crows are attracted to peanuts placed around the machine, allowing them to become familiar with its presence before they learn how to access food directly.

Stages of Behavior Training

• In the third stage of training, crows receive only a coin instead of peanuts, prompting them to use natural behaviors (like sweeping with their beaks) to retrieve food.

• Unlike squirrels that may give up after repeated failures, crows persistently try different approaches when faced with challenges presented by the machine.

Insights on Crow Intelligence

• Crows demonstrate problem-solving abilities by figuring out how to use coins from earlier stages to obtain peanuts later on. This showcases their cognitive flexibility and intelligence.

• The significance lies not just in training crows for peanuts but exploring broader applications where trained crows could assist humans in tasks like garbage collection or search and rescue operations.

Potential Applications of Crow Training