Rooks reveal remarkable tool use

[Soylent Brice]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8059688.stm

video at the link.

Rooks have a remarkable aptitude for using tools, scientists have found.

Tests on captive birds revealed that they could craft and employ tools to solve a number of different problems.

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, came as a surprise as rooks do not use tools in the wild.

Despite this, the UK team said the birds' skills rivalled those of well-known tool users such as chimpanzees and New Caledonian crows.

[Sanity Claws]

1. Are rooks part of the crow family?

I'm not familiar with rooks but crows and ravens are known for being very smart.

[Soylent Brice]

3. i hate using wikipedia, but:

yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(bird)

[Dogtown]

2. Very cool!

Thanks!

[Soylent Brice]

4. no problem.

reminded me of octopi tool usage. that was shocking for scientists too.

[DireStrike]

5. It's not so much the useage, but the CRAFTING of tools that is interesting.

My cat understands that doorknobs open doors. He doesn't know how they work but he sure as hell tries to work 'em. If an animal is given the right tool for the job, they can probably accomplish it.

Being able to create the tool for that job constitutes a whole other level of intelligence. I wonder what this says about brain size in general, and the term "birdbrain" in particular. What ARE we using our enormous brains for, if birds with their comparatively tiny brains can work out tool useage to a similar degree as chimps?

[Soylent Brice]

6. we're using our brains for

storage space for commercial jingles.