4 ms·
I have a strange love for birds. People often laugh at the endearment I have for birds like they have for dogs or cats. But when asked why I like birds so much,
by jameslk 10y ago
I have a strange love for birds. People often laugh at the endearment I have for birds like they have for dogs or cats. But when asked why I like birds so much, I can answer this very succinctly: there is very few other species that can fly, walk or swim all at once like some birds can. Nor a group of species so diverse, colorful, capable and intelligent. With such an interesting evolution sharing an ancestry with the once terrifying dinosaurs that roamed the world now so commonplace and taken for granted.
Just the intelligence of birds alone is fascinating with birds that can learn human speech and understand its context, solve puzzles, solve puzzles in teams, understand the concept of self, learn human faces, give gifts, have theory of mind, perform ritual and now show empathy. All packed into a tiny "bird brain." They are truly marvelous creatures.
- spacehome 10y agoAll that, and they're delicious, too.
- nier 10y agoYour comment reminds me of a story in a book called Shantaram. Guy feeds a mouse visiting his cell every now and then. Before being relocated this prisoner tells the new inmate to take good care of Mickey. Next thing he knows, his little friend is on display with two pencils piercing his body. Crucified.
- charlesdm 10y ago:(
- mirimir 10y agoAnd vice versa ;) http://www.suck.com/daily/2000/11/23/b.gif http://www.suck.com/daily/2000/11/23/b.gif
- cmrdporcupine 10y agoOh man I miss Suck.com
- 32bitkid 10y agoAmusing, albeit predictable, that a article about another species sharing the construct of empathy would elicit such a veceral demonstration of its absence. I wonder if we'll ever observe another species that enjoys sarcasm and irony as much as we do.
- spacehome 10y agoQuite. How droll.
- mirimir 10y agoI'm fascinated by birds. It's not that I'm a lister, but I'm always aware of birds around me, from their vocalizations. The stereotype of "bird watchers" with their binoculars and scopes is misleading. Mostly you identify birds by sound. Anyway, avian evolution has diverged enough from our line that birds are virtually aliens. Compared to other primates, and other smart mammals, I mean. Also rather alien are spiders, octopus, and colonial insects.
- mchmch 10y agoDoes your diet include chicken or turkey? It seems a large number of people who claim to love birds overlook this... your perspective would be interesting.