Tom Cox @cox tom

Almost certainly the best thing I wa ever told about owls was when I met an owl handler and he told me that the wild owls in the sanctuary where he worked worried about the tame show owls there and sometimes stopped by to leave them shrews and mice as presents.

  • TruthAintEasy@kbin.social
    43·
    9 months ago

    I mean as in they can describe appearances and events to each other, but probably not formulate any plans more complex than eat here, avoid that place, attack guys dressed up in Jason Voorhees costumes because three generations ago a guy dressed like that messed around with our nests… stuff like that

    • miss_brainfartsEnglish
      31·
      9 months ago

      One time I tried to talk to a crow by telling it to caw once for yes, twice for no.

      Grabbed its attention with a friendly greeting, to which it turned and looked at me, waiting for what I’d say, keeping eye-contact and everything.

      I asked it if it actually was a crow, since I wasn’t sure. It cawed once, and patiently waited for me to speak again, looking at me all curious. I said Thank you, and it looked like it nodded.

      Obviously I have no idea if that bird actually understands that crow is what humans call it, but it did feel like I had an actual conversation with it.

        • TruthAintEasy@kbin.social
          8·
          9 months ago

          We used to have a HUGE raven that would hang around a pet food co I worked at. So I started sneaking him bird seed because idgaf what the boss thinks, Im making a friend here.

          One time the raven made this sound. Almost like the japanese water clock at the end of Kill Bill 1. I reacted like whoa, what a cool sound! And did a little jig. That raven named me ‘waterclock’ and used that sound to greet me whenever he encountered me. I miss Black-Beauty (my name for him)

          • Herbal Gamer@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            3·
            9 months ago

            That’s so cool! Merlin would just peck at shoes of tourists to ask for food lol
            I used to carry a bag of nuts in my pocket at work (where he used to visit me) just to get him away from scared people all the time.

        • angrystego@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          9 months ago

          They can do so much more! They’re super intelligent, if you think a dog is clever (and I’d agree you’re right) then look up the stuff ravens can do!