Helpful crows
Not picking up cigarette butts or litter, but dog biscuits!
Six years ago, an unusual initiative began in the city of Södertälje in Sweden. It was designed to cut down on litter and the expense of cleaning the streets. Christian Günther-Hanssen, the founder of Corvid Cleaning, believed that trained crows would reduce the litter of cigarette butts by about 75% in the city.
Cigarette butts take an incredible ten years to decay, releasing lead, nicotine and arsenic into the soil and water.
The crows quickly learnt that if they picked up cigarette butts and put them in a special machine, they would get a food treat in exchange. In a theme park, Puy du Fou, in France, the falcons in a falconry display, demonstrated how they had been trained to pick up items and take them to specific locations. Inspired by this, crows were trained to pick up cigarette butts and other litter in exchange for food treats.
If only we could train humans to stop dropping litter everywhere they went!
I am not surprised that birds will clean up rubbish, in return for tasty food for themselves. But taking the rubbish to specific locations is as clever as kindergarten students. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteWe should never underestimate the intelligence of other life forms.
DeleteCigarette butts take ten years to decay?? Gosh, I'm glad I don't smoke and add to that litter. Here in Australia street rubbish bins in the cities have "butt collectors" attached to the sides, for smokers to dispose of their butts, so there aren't any on the footpaths or roads. Out here in the sunburbs it's a different story, I notice here in the flats around mine, almost every tenant smokes and there are often butts on the lawns and in the gutters. I pick up any that are on "my" lawn or in my garden then scrub my hands with a LOT of soap.
ReplyDeleteI am really surprised that so many people still smoke. At least we don't see that on television and in films now - they just drink, instead!
DeleteThis is rather enjoyable to see birds feeding
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy watching birds do just about anything.
DeleteOH ICK those poor crows! Cigarettes butts are so nasty.
ReplyDeleteIf there's something in it for them, I'm sure they don't mind. You've just made me wonder if birds can taste things (rushes off to Google)
DeleteThey are very intelligent creatures!
ReplyDeleteThey are, indeed.
DeleteThey are indeed very clever birds. Our farmer friend says they can tell if he is carrying a shotgun or a stick and will fly away if the former but just ignore him if the latter.
ReplyDeleteI can believe that. They are so observant.
DeleteI've written about our crows today, too. I've read about the cigarette butt exchange program. Sad that people throw them on the ground to begin with.
ReplyDeleteIt's sheer laziness and arrogance.
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DeleteOnly ten years to decay?!? I was once advised that the two things that would survive a nuclear bomb would be cockroaches and cigarette butts. Crows are my second most favorite birds (keas at the top) and there's no denying they are super smart. It's a pity their intelligence is, in this example, merely being invested in solving the laziness and stupidity of humans.
ReplyDeleteI knew about cockroaches but had never heard that about cigarette butts. Just looked it up and found this: 'While cigarette filters, or the plastic part of butts, can take up to 10 years to completely degrade, the chemicals they release can remain in the environment for many more years beyond the life of the cigarette butt itself.'
ReplyDeleteThat's so claver. A huge shame it is needed but wow. xx
ReplyDeleteThey are impressive birds.
DeleteHumans will never be trained to clean up after themselves. Too many too lazy. Crows are super smart as I have seen them in parking lots picking up smashed french fry cups and carry them around to reopen and get fries out. Dog biscuits would be healthier food for them!
ReplyDeleteThey soon learn which dog walkers carry treats and follow them, eat what's given and then fly ahead to wait for more.
DeleteCrows and ravens are brilliant. Have you seen a clip from Japan where the crows drop nuts with hard shells onto a roadway at a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing, then run back to the safety of the footpath, cars run over the nuts and break the shells and the crows then run back out at the next set of walk lights to collect the nuts from the broken shells.
ReplyDeleteI am not at all surprised crows can be trained to pick up things for rewards.
Yes, it's a really entertaining clip. So clever!
DeleteHow amazing those crows are.
ReplyDeleteThe green background is a little gentler on the eyes.
Alison in Wales x
I hadn't realised how strident the pink was until I changed to the green:-)
ReplyDeleteI knew crows were smart, but didn't know they were trainable.
ReplyDeleteWith patience and, often lots of time, most creatures can be trained. It's amazing.
DeleteOnce we had a dead crow in our yard in Los Angeles, soon a large community of crows gathered, as if to say goodbye to their friend.
ReplyDeleteThey do mourn their dead - quite remarkable.
DeleteWhat a very clever idea! Ugh! Did not know that about cigarette butts. Crows are such clever birds!
ReplyDeleteThey are most intelligent.
DeleteWow! What a brilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity it's necessary, though.
DeleteAbsolutely brilliant. But, could they train Cro how not to increase my blood pressure?
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that's between you and Cro ;-)
DeleteCrows are very intelligent. It's been proven they use tools, can recognize people who are good to them, and also recognize those who are mean to them. I didn't know about cigarette butts or crows being trained to dispose of them. It's interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey soon learn which dog walkers carry treats!
DeleteUnlike a lot of humans, crows are more intelligent than we give them credit for and are quick learners! xxx
ReplyDeleteSome people wouldn't be allowed to be honorary crows ;-)
DeleteI still can't believe that so many people still smoke. Too bad people couldn't be trained the same way crows are
ReplyDeleteI'm always so surprised to see people smoking - and vaping is no better.
DeleteWhy do I just feel sorry for the crows doing the dirty work to clean up after people?!
ReplyDeleteQuite! Why can't people clear up their own messes - or not make them in the first place?
DeleteHow clever of the town in Sweden. The whole idea is amazing and so smart of the crows! 10 years for a butt to disappear? crazy..
ReplyDeleteHarnessing an animal's natural ability is intelligent.
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