Monday, January 15, 2018

They came from above with fire


It has been going on since before written history but now we can record it... kites and ravens in Australia take burning wood from a forest fire and carry it abroad to start fires elsewhere. Is it intentional? Yes! Why? To scare out rodents (and perhaps slightly char them for flavor). The birds start a fire then wait for their prey to run out from cover where they are easily snatched for dinner. Tool use among animal, indeed!