Bird Brains

Just found a fascinating article on avian intelligence and evolution which suggests that many species of birds have very similar types of intelligence to that found in humans and apes, things having to do with grammar, mental projection, and so on. The most interesting part is that it seems to be directly related to how social the species of birds are, implying that perhaps the evolution of intelligence is the direct result of living and cooperating in groups. check it:

The intelligence of birds, which sit far from man on the evolutionary tree, has also forced a reappraisal of where intelligence comes from. Scientists once assumed that intelligence evolved out of physical need – animals got smart in order to exploit natural resources. But the brainpower of birds suggests that intelligence is actually a byproduct of complex social interactions. Living in a group requires an animal to juggle lots of information about its peers. So it’s not a coincidence that the smartest creatures are also the most social.

Crows, for example, live in strikingly human social structures. They are devoted to their families, but can assemble in much larger flocks if resources are sufficient. African grays follow a similar pattern, roosting at night with hundreds of other birds, but foraging during the day with an intimate group of kin. These intricate social structures mean that many birds are subject to the same social challenges as primates. It is these challenges, the research suggests, that make them so smart.

Now THAT is tremendously interesting to me, and not only because it directly supports arguments that go back to Kropotkin about mutual aid and sociability being key factors in evolution – arguments that are at the root of scientific anarchism.

check it out – http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/09/16/eggheads/?page=full

Posted: September 29th, 2007 under science and history.
Comments: 1

Comments