Darryl Dyer is the guy with the peanuts. All along his almost 12-mile walk, crows follow him. Crows may be some of the smartest animals on the planet. Now researchers want to know more about these amazing bird brains.
Scientists have known for years that crows recognize and remember faces and actions. They can even pass that information to their offspring.
"They know your body type. The way you walk," Dyer says. "They'll take their young down and say: 'You want to get to know this guy. He's got the food.'"
Kaeli Swift, a University of Washington graduate student who led a crow study agrees, "Crows . . . have these complex social relationships, and they have a big brain."
Crows’ brain-to-body ratio is similar to smart mammals, like dolphins and primates. Crows are problem-solvers and planners. They can hold grudges and use tools.
Crows are also social animals. They react loudly when a member of their group dies. Crows sometimes place sticks and other objects on dead birds—a kind of funeral. But the reason behind these actions isn’t clear.
Researchers want to know what a bird’s brain does when another crow dies. Some believe the crows are mourning. Since crows mate for life, losing a partner might have meaning for them.
Researchers tested the grieving theory. They carried a stuffed crow into several Seattle parks. The crows reacted. One would signal an alarm. Dozens showed up. They surrounded the dead crow—perching on trees or flying above, a behavior called “mobbing.”
In another part of the experiment, researchers measured the brain activity of crows after they viewed a dead bird. The scans showed the memory section of the brain light up at the sight of death.
"That crow was learning about a place, or a face, or a situation and associated it with that dead crow," says John Marzluff, the lead researcher.
"When you see its brain is using the same parts of the brain to remember things that we do . . . maybe it gives you a little more sympathy to the bird," Marzluff says.
It’s a privilege to remember that God created all things. The brainy crow is yet another example of His marvelous creation. An 1848 hymn highlights the Creator’s skill:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
It’s an even greater privilege to think that He loves humans above all else.
“Look at the birds of the air. . . . Are you not of more value than they?” — Matthew 6:26
