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Adannor from effin' belarus Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
#22376: Aug 30th 2019 at 7:15:59 AM

Maybe just being raised among humans since the egg-cracking removed it's "WTF IS THAT FEATHRELESS BIPED, IMMA KICK IT" reaction

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#22377: Aug 30th 2019 at 9:02:42 AM

I mean, most birds raised in captivity are raised with the "horrific handpuppet made to look like someone is wearing the carcass of one of your own" method of parenting, in order to ingrain in the fledglings that humans are horrifying, sadistic creatures, so you better not cross them if you don't want to end up a horrific handpuppet used to cow future generations into obedience.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#22378: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:43:21 AM

Nah, they totally think those puppets are actual birds. Birds are dumb as hell. That's the only way cuckoos can get away with their shit.

Disgusted, but not surprised
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#22379: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:58:12 AM

Aw, well now you've ruined it for me and puppet bird-rearing is a lot less interesting.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#22380: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:06:54 AM

Parrots and corvids are very intelligent, does the puppet thing work on them too?

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#22381: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:10:17 AM

Dunno about that. I've seen the method used for raising cranes and other endangered species raised in captivity. I doubt they even bother with that method for crows and ravens. I think parrots are intelligent enough that they don't use that method.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#22382: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:14:28 AM

I think the only birds they use it for are ones they release into the wild, most bird are very intelligent due to their brain structers.

blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#22383: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:14:48 AM

Birds provide some of the smartest vertebrates but also some of the stupidest.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#22384: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:15:31 AM

Like I said, some birds can mistake a cuckoo chick for their own chick. Even when the cuckoo chick is much bigger than them.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CEOIII C-E-O-3, H-N-I-C from Franklin, PA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
C-E-O-3, H-N-I-C
#22385: Aug 30th 2019 at 1:25:40 PM

Spindriver: Or it didn't see you as a threat.

"Yeah, keep walking, human. Don't start shit, won't be shit."

I'm Charlie Owens, good night and good luck. PSNID: CEOIII 1117
HeraldAlberich from Ohio (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
#22386: Aug 30th 2019 at 1:45:11 PM

My zoo has a section like that for kangaroos. Another animal known for kicking, and yet only a little rope fence between us and them. They all just kinda lounge around.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#22387: Aug 30th 2019 at 5:10:11 PM

[up][up][up] The cuckoo bird eggs are deliberately designed to resemble the eggs of the host species and think the mother still caring for the chick is somekind of reverse imprinting thing.

Noaqiyeum Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they) from the gentle and welcoming dark (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they)
#22388: Aug 30th 2019 at 8:03:21 PM

I don’t know if the cuckoo specifically does this, but there are other birds that display the same behavior - it’s called “brood parasitism” - where they remember the nests they’ve laid eggs in, and if they come back and their own egg is gone, they’ll smash all the other eggs in retaliation. So it’s less that the mothers are blind and more that they just don’t want trouble from the bird mafia.

Edited by Noaqiyeum on Aug 30th 2019 at 5:05:46 PM

The Revolution Will Not Be Tropeable
blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#22390: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:12:38 PM

the cuckoo chick will destroy the other nestlings anyway. They push the eggs out of the nest until the cuckoo is all that's left.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#22391: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:27:44 PM

This has actually led to a bit of an evolutionary arms race between the brood parasite species and the host species.

The "mafia" thing is specifically done by brood parasite species who go after multiple host species as opposed to one specific species. The great spotted cuckoo is one such brood parasite who uses mafioso tactics.

Edited by M84 on Aug 31st 2019 at 1:29:33 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Adannor from effin' belarus Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
#22392: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:43:47 PM

Soo, the host nest is completely screwed either way - either the cuckoo chick or cuckoo mom breaks the eggs eventually.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#22393: Aug 30th 2019 at 10:55:30 PM

This can even benefit other brood parasite species who don't use mafia tactics — the hosts mistake their eggs for that of a mafia bird's and keep it in their nest.

It's the equivalent of a two-bit thief intimidating people by pretending to be a made man.

Edited by M84 on Aug 31st 2019 at 1:56:04 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Noaqiyeum Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they) from the gentle and welcoming dark (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they)
#22394: Aug 30th 2019 at 11:14:25 PM

[up][up]

“Our protection racket is great, but providing concrete incentives to be protected would be great.”

“So...we're going to rob them smash all their eggs now?”

“Yes.”

“How is that different from what we've been doing all along?”

Very slightly.”

Edited by Noaqiyeum on Aug 30th 2019 at 8:14:42 PM

The Revolution Will Not Be Tropeable
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#22395: Aug 31st 2019 at 5:23:36 AM

Aren't these birds usually attacked by other birds?

blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#22396: Aug 31st 2019 at 8:20:54 AM

In many cases, yes. I believe crows and Jays will mob cuckoos?

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
#22397: Sep 1st 2019 at 11:09:39 AM

The zoo in my hometown has a knee-height wooden fence keeping the humans separate from the kangaroos and wallabies. The wallabies can and do hop right through the fence to cross the footpath.

Fresh-eyed movie blog
HeraldAlberich from Ohio (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
#22398: Sep 1st 2019 at 8:34:11 PM

#4081: I mean, as long as they're opening up her leg anyway...

[down] Me too.

Edited by HeraldAlberich on Sep 1st 2019 at 11:36:20 AM

TheLovecraftian Since: Jul, 2017
#22399: Sep 1st 2019 at 8:34:11 PM

Butts.

Fraking [nja], man... same second, as well. I'm almost impressed at this.

Edited by TheLovecraftian on Sep 1st 2019 at 12:35:22 PM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#22400: Sep 1st 2019 at 8:39:47 PM

Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Actually, she'd probably be in the mood to literally do that. Stupid emu.

Disgusted, but not surprised

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