Book 25, Question 82 · Video
How did crows in Japan learn to use traffic lights to crack nuts?
In Sendai, Japan, scientists saw crows using a clever trick. A crow would drop a walnut on the road in front of cars that had stopped at a red light. After the cars drove over it and cracked the shell, the crow waited until the crossing light turned green for walkers. Then it hopped down to eat the nut safely. Crows solve puzzles and use tools.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How did crows in Japan learn to use traffic lights to crack nuts?
The Big Idea
Crows are some of the smartest birds on Earth! In Japan, some crows found a clever way to crack nuts. They used traffic!
Drop the Nut
Step one: Drop the Nut. In Sendai, Japan, scientists saw a crow drop a walnut on the road in front of cars stopped at a red light. The crow had a plan.
Cars Crack It
Step two: Cars Crack It. When the light changed, the cars drove over the nut and cracked the shell. The crow did not have to work hard at all.
Wait for Green
Step three: Wait for Green. The crow waited until the crossing light turned green for walkers. Then it hopped down to eat the nut safely.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Crows solve puzzles. They use tools. They learn by watching. They remember faces.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Scientists think crows may learn tricks like this by watching each other. Crows remember faces. Some use sticks as tools. Even crows use walk signals.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up nearby, find a crow. Watch it from a distance for ten minutes. Write down everything it does. Did it find food? Did it talk to other crows?
Outro
Crows in Japan learned to drop walnuts in front of cars at red lights, let the cars crack them, and wait for the walk signal to eat safely. Crows are clever problem solvers. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!