Crows can recognise human faces!

Yes they can.

In fact, scientists say many birds recognise individual humans but they probably do this by using a variety of cues, including height, build, colour, clothes or ways of walking. Crows, however, can actually recognise faces. Amazing, isn't it.

Red-eyed crows of Nexus Resort Karambunai, Sabah. Photo by de engineur

This has been confirmed by experiments in which scientists put on various masks and then trapped a group of wild crows and fixed rings to their legs. After letting the birds go, they walked around recording whom the crows mobbed or scolded with their harsh, warning cries.

The trapped crows, which had previously ignored these individuals, now reacted aggressively to anyone wearing the trappers’ masks, regardless of their size, clothes, or gait.

So, don't underestimate the statement by movie makers who portrayed crow's presence as bad omen and its aggression towards human. LOL, that's from me - don't be bothered.


ref - Sciencefocus

Cheer up sad stork, it's Monday!

This is Monday morning and it's barely 2 weeks to the new year.

Was it a great one so far today? Or, a gloomy one like storky?

Milky stork @National Zoo, Kuala Lumpur

Cheer up, mate. You are not alone, you've got company.
Take a walk and mingle around!

Check it out here if Mr. Lonely Stork can find a friend.

Why do parrots live so long?

Life expectancy in Malaysia are currently 77 for women and 72 for men. It seem many of us would be outlived by parrots. According to Sciencefocus, some parrots can live up to 75 years.


Red-haired parrot at Lok Kawi Zoo. Nikon | 200mm | f/5 | 1/100sec | ISO 400 |


Sciencefocus reckoned that parrots are the longest-lived order of birds whereby cockatoos and Amazonian parrots can reach the age of 75 or older. Even budgerigars (common pet parakeet) live for 15‑25 years, which is an exceptionally long life for such small animals. The reason for this is that they have few predators and are often colonial, so their chances of finding food are better.

Species with lots of predators can’t expect to escape being eaten for more than a few years. So they evolve to reproduce as quickly as possible, and in large numbers. This takes a lot of metabolic resources out of the adults, and they are more likely to die shortly after breeding. Even more importantly, genetic mutations that might cause disability or disease later in life don’t have any effect on natural selection because those individuals have already reproduced. This means mutations of this sort tend to accumulate in the species, and so its maximum natural lifespan will tend to shorten.

In the absence of parrot predators, natural selection has weeded out most of these mutations from their gene pool.

TheGreenMechanics: From human perspective, make lesser 'predator' and you live longer. Strive to make friends, not enemies.


Note: Facts are from Sciencefocus, the photograph is my own.

Hungry bird gone hunting

We had a short vacation recently and I took some time to try birding. It was good that the operator maintained the greenery around the resort and there are areas that are quite photographer-friendly to those with camera with them. But who doesn't, nowadays.

Here is birdie's three steps to hunt fruitfully:

* hide and spy - be on alert *

* snap your prey at first glimpse - don't delay, opportunity only flash once! *

* enjoy your catch, but wait, make sure there's no one lurking *

There are many more telling shots in between these three pictures. They can be found in my photo blog.

Note: I can't identify the bird. It looks like heron but it could also be a kingfisher. Appreciate some help.

The story of a hungry crow

There are two of them. But one crow is hungrier than the other, so, let's just stick to the title.

I was in a 'animal-language' mode that afternoon and decided to speak their language, probably out of hunger. I thought I could help a bird or two if I go down to their level and try to understand their problem. It turned out to be less than pleasant experience:

He & She (singing): DO - a deer, a female deer...

So they started to sing - one on base voice and the other on second. I thought I heard 'him' singing the loudest while 'she' keep a low profile. I took out and brandished my gear and I was ready to shoot.

Please continue reading (or rather watching) here.