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Several vertebrate species can distinguish between, say, two and five bananas—but with the exception of primates, they can’t grasp the numerical rules that would let them arrange their piles of fruit from least to most. Now, new research suggests that pigeons, like primates, can follow these abstract numerical rules. The study is in the journal Science. [Damian Scarf, Harlene Hayne and Michael Colombo, "Pigeons on Par with Primates in Numerical Competence"]
Researchers trained pigeons with cards on which were pictures of one, two or three shapes, sometimes in different sizes and colors. The birds were ultimately able to correctly pick a card with one large green square first, followed by a card with two small red ovals, followed by one showing three long blue rods.
Then, the pigeons demonstrated a new ability—faced with two cards each showing up to nine images, they could tell which card had more. Which indicates that they had an abstract understanding of the single-digit amounts. Rhesus monkeys trained in a similar way displayed the same talents. Whether this shared ability evolved independently or came from a common ancestor is unclear. But it is clear that birdbrains aren’t so dumb.
—Sophie Bushwick
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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5 Comments
Add CommentI say that pigeons have an intelligence (and a sense of humor) that surpasses that of primates, given their ability to distinguish between a dirty automobile and one that has recently been washed. Monkeys are quite indiscriminate when it comes to flinging their feces.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat is being totally overlooked here, is what context the pidgeons did this in, if it was really based on counting or on something else more mundane. e.g.,if the cards with more objects were next to its food, uh it wouldn't be valid.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey forgot to mention how this was communicated to the pidgeons, and how the birds wrote down their answers in esperanto for the judges.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhile birds will never be human -- the more human-like their intelligence is, the more we may have hope that we can be bird-like. Now why would we want to be? So that we and the birds will be around one hundred years from now. Let me explain:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSuppose someone built a seemingly exquisite computer compared to the rest of todays technology. With 10 times the hard drive and RAM memory, 100 hundred time the processing speed, and revolutionary user interface capabilities it could be the envy of all. It has only one "minor" fault. Due to its breakthrough technology, it cannot interface with the Internet. The salivating of the eyes reading the description next to the model in the store window, screeches to a halt, and the potential customers all walk away.
Why? Because nice as the human interface might be, it is cutoff from an communication/information of a billion times the memory and processing speed.
The brains of of a bird take on importance not as an independent intelligence, but really in their connection with the flock. Here it becomes a local sensor and data processor node to an enormous net That forms a group intelligence of fantastic sensor and strategic/tactical power.
It is easier to grasp this power with even simpler organisms in huge numbers. I would suggest taking a look at this link: http://www.kurzweilai.net/smart-swarms-of-bacteria-inspire-robot-design?utm_
-- not the one page article per se, but rather take a look at the YouTube lecture embedded in the article on “Learning from Bacterial Social Networks."
Here we see a powerful demonstration of the power of mutual concern and guarantee in a population group well-exceeding the 7 billion humans of our planet, in coming up with amazing accommodation solutions to a relatively complex macro-environment -- without compulsion and without a fixed leadership -- very round table-like.
Now think at the human level of communication and action, what this would mean? If birds can do it, perhaps we could to. We see the power of online social networks evolving as you read this. All we would really need of our own is the will to introspect, mutually educate, on the world's interdependence, that your happiness and sorrow are -- really are -- mine. Humanity -- everyone in it -- could achieve a greater self, like a child matured to adulthood. Our individuality -- talents, creativity, problem solving wouldn't be suppressed, but rather vital. Perceiving and thinking at that level, we can solve our problems, survive and thrive -- we and the birds.
The benefits of what you propose are not so far-fetched. I'd even say such mutuality and intelligent synergy is much needed given the alternative collective behavior we as a species currently exhibit: crabs in a bucket.
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