this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
2 points (100.0% liked)

Biology

1411 readers
1 users here now

This is a general community to discuss of all things related to biology!

For a more specific community about asking questions to biologists, you can also visit:

/c/[email protected]

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
2
Crows and magpies using anti-bird spikes to build nests, researchers find (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
3 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I often follow links in the articles for extra context and some rabbithole escapism.

Rather than finding old strips of anti-bird spikes at rubbish dumps, Moeliker, who previously won an Ig Nobel prize for documenting the first known case of homosexual necrophilia among ducks, says...

is likely a "thats enough internet for today" moment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Your excerpt made me read the article. For those who haven’t or just don’t want to read it, ducks aren’t the only “crazy” birds. Crows and Magpies have been using these spikes and other dangerous human liter as defense from predators. What type of dangerous liter you might ask?

In 1933, a South African museum reported a crow’s nest fashioned from hard-drawn copper, galvanised iron and barbed wire. Nails, screws and even drug users’ syringes have all found their way into birds’ nests.

Some have even ripped metal off nearby factories to build their nests. These birds are on another level.