Book 31, Question 125 · Video
How do scientists test how smart a bird is?
Scientists give birds puzzles. In one test, a crow faced a tube of water with a floating treat that was too low to reach. The crow dropped pebbles into the tube until the water rose high enough, just like in the old Aesop’s fable. Other tests use hidden food, boxes with latches, and pictures to match. The birds’ choices show how they think.
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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 do scientists test how smart a bird is?
The Big Idea
How do you test how smart a bird is? You give it a puzzle! Let's see how scientists do it.
A Water Puzzle
Step one: A Water Puzzle. In one test, a crow faced a tube of water with a floating treat that was too low to reach. It couldn't get its beak down that far.
Drop the Pebbles
Step two: Drop the Pebbles. The crow dropped pebbles into the tube until the water rose high enough. It's just like the crow in Aesop's old fable.
More Tests
Step three: More Tests. Other tests use hidden food, boxes with latches, and pictures to match. The birds' choices show scientists how they think.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! A floating treat. Raise the water. Open them. Match them.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Different bird species solve puzzles in different ways. It's just like Aesop's fable. Pebbles raise the water. Puzzles show how birds think.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Put some water in a tall, narrow cup. Float a small cork in it. Drop in clean pebbles one at a time. Watch the cork rise. Count how many pebbles it takes.
Outro
Scientists test birds with puzzles. A crow facing a floating treat in a tube dropped pebbles until the water rose, just like Aesop's fable, and other tests use latch boxes, hidden food, and pictures. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!