Comments on: Ravens Appear to Communicate Using Gestures–A First for Non-Primates

By: michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?)

michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:14:20 +0000

I have observed (my) squirrels using stones to scoop up the peanut butter I pour (hot outside) onto a flat stump. I’ve seen them carry them, and use them to scrape up the last bit of peanut butter – stones are not left when there is a puddle of peanut butter. I believe this may be the first evidence of tool use in a squirrel – I am tempted to call up my old High School teacher (Mr. Wells). Boy would he be surprised!

Seriously, though – anyone interested in more info? Is this a note-worthy observation?

By: michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?)

michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:09:50 +0000

This deserves to be put to song, can anyone put this to music?

” We may be highly evolved and intelligent and create and invent and destroy, but we are animals nonetheless. The more scientists view our species as just that, a species, the closer we will be to understanding our origins and who we are”

– “Chris the Canadian” Prior Comment; Number Eight (8).

By: michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?)

michael sirbola (aka: very slow-learning species, or... ?) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:04:18 +0000

My miracle dog “Bug” constantly irritates me by hiding the ball behind bushes and trees or in high grass (often near a prior pooh-event, please note – not”Pooh-event!”).

So irritating have these three habits in particular become over the past few years that I am inclined to throw the ball less and less.

Instead, I play magician, you will note that this involves me much more, as the main magician and center-stage object of attention by deftly (personal judgement) rolling and moving and hiding the ball in and around the two of us within a small sphere.

I often hide the ball in the crook of one bent knee, under an arm, or held to the side of the head, just so (my three favorites).

By: Ted Greenstone

Ted Greenstone — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:18 +0000

I just want to report how my cat told me to shut up, by using a gesture. I sat on my bed whistling a tune because I was in a good mood, Tabitha (the cat) walked into the room constantly meowing, and I continued to whistle all the while wondering why she was being noisy. She jumped up to my lap and very deliberately placed her paw on my mouth. She impressed the hell out of me by delivering a clear message.

By: Chris the Canadian

Chris the Canadian — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:16:08 +0000

Jeanne I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head in your assessment that some ‘experts’ should leave the lab for awhile and look at the real world around them. Sometimes these so-called ‘experts’ are so entangled in their own arrogant thoughts and explanations they fail to see the obvious. Animals around the world display all sorts of methods of communication and interaction. Dogs have different barks and whines. Birds show displays of dance and architecture that would make some of our greatest engineers and art directors envious. Watch how a mother horse or antelope or wildebeast treats their newborn calf or how a heard of Water Buffalo encircle their weak and young from attack by a pride of Lions.

To say that these are ‘instinct’ and don’t have communication or thought is ridiculous. We, as humans, are animals. We may be highly evolved and intelligent and create and invent and destroy, but we are animals nonetheless. The more scientists view our species as just that, a species, the closer we will be to understanding our origins and who we are.

By: Jeanne Weiske

Jeanne Weiske — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:55:53 +0000

What’s amazing to me is how totally clueless these “experts” really are. Anyone that spends time observing other animals (those “lesser” species), soon accepts the fact that they’re a lot smarter than they’re given credit for. This seems to be a need to feel superior on the “experts” side. As a retiree, I’ve had time to observe the corvids in my area, smart is an understatement. And they have a clear sense of humor. I’ve watched them tease my cats from outside the window, with definite satisfaction at the cats’ frustration. I’m just glad that, in most cases, scientists no longer claim that animals feel no pain. They do need to leave the lab and enter the real world for awhile, and observe. Observation is a premier way to validate an idea. And not in the lab, out in the wild, under natural conditions.

By: Ug

Ug — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:20:14 +0000

Why do we consider ourselves so much different than the rest of the animal kingdom? I’ve seen so many scientist ask such stupid questions regarding the behavior of animals solely because they consider a lot of behavior as human and therefore above the ability of other animals. They want to say that we evolved with all the other animals on Earth but act as if we are completely different, you can’t have it both ways.

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:01:01 +0000

Anyone who has read any of raven expert Bernd Heinrich’s works would be aware of a very broad range of corvid gestures, and their many apparent purposes — some of them quite whimsical and evidently just for fun. Heinrich also explains that, contrary to the article above, ravens are not monogamous — most ravens are bachelors who spend most of their time just having a good time. Unlike humans, ravens are smart enough to manage their numbers to stay in balance with their ecosystem, and smart enough to manage their time so they only work as hard as they have to to live a comfortable, joyful life.

I’m sure they have a wide range of gestures to communicate knowingly to each other what they think of our colossally arrogant species. But perhaps I’m anthropomorphising.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:55:30 +0000

I would have thought that cats and dogs communicate with gestures as well – unless tails don’t count for some reason.

By: Mnm Hugot

Mnm Hugot — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:59:45 +0000

Maybe they should trying living with one of these birds in their home. I have a crow that would have died in the wild as a baby. He has been living with us in the house as part of our family for two years. Believe me he communicates using gestures all of the time. He can make himself and his wants very clear. Why should it be any different in the wild between birds?