“How smart are birds?” asked Momanita.
Momanita plucked off the blue cover on my rolly nest.
“This cockatiel is smart enough to know that I need to wake up before I think about it.”
To other hootmans this sounded like squeals and whistles, but not to Momanita. She MOSTLY understood cockatiel speak. I MOSTLY understood hootman talk.
“Here’s your breakfast treat.”
Momanita held not one, but THREE treats- Cheerios, Wheat Chex, and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
“Which one is your favorite?”
The soft, round Cheerios, with the oat flavor, I often enjoyed. Although I struggled nipping the sturdy, woven Wheat Chex, it tempted me, too. The flat, crispy corn flakes I grasped most easily in my claw.
“They’re all good. Why do I have to pick one?”
Then instead of feeding me any of the treats, Momanita dropped the Cheerio in her left jacket pocket, the Wheat Chex in her right jacket pocket, and the corn flake in her tee shirt pocket.
“If I know your favorite, I’ll use it as a reward for the intelligence test,” said Momanita.
I didn’t want to take any tests.
“A test will let me know how smart you are. I read about how a bird’s brain and a human’s brain are more alike than scientists thought. I wonder how to test for your intelligence.”
When Momanita wondered, she thought of questions.
When she thought of questions, she looked for answers.
When she looked for answers, she needed my help.
And I needed those treats that were in her pockets instead of in my stomachs. (Parrots had two.) I’d trick Momanita into giving me those treats without taking tests.
I climbed out of my rolly cage into my writing nest. She scooted her chair to the computer and tapped the keyboard. While Momanita figured out how a bird test worked, I’d figure out how to pick the treats out of her pockets.
Pulling A Few Strings
“Scientists create problems with food as a reward to test animal intelligence,” Momanita said. “In the string test, food is tied to the end of one string. Another string doesn’t have food attached. The bird can see both strings. If he pulls the one with the food, he solves the problem and is rewarded with a treat.”
It didn’t seem like much of a problem to me. When I saw a Cheerio, I ate it. The Cheerio in Momanita’s tee shirt pocket wasn’t tied to the string. I climbed down the side of my writing nest and up Momanita’s arm to her right shoulder.
“Parrots and crows solved the string problem. Pigeons used a computer touch screen to solve a similar problem,” read Momanita. “I guess pigeons’ feet and beaks aren’t built to pull strings. Instead, they pecked on a picture of a string with food.”
Momanita’s tee shirt pocket gapped. I saw the Cheerio below. I couldn’t reach it, but Momanita could.
Then I had an idea.
When I was funny, she gave me treats. She laughed when I flipped her earring. I tossed her dangling earring.
“You’re so funny, Squeaks,” said Momanita. “Here you go, Squeaky Pie. Have a Cheerio treat. I’ll use the others for the test.”
Keep It In The Family
“Jay birds showed their intelligence by sharing their food with their family members,” said Momanita. “Jays chased away outsiders. They didn’t want the competition.”
I polished off the Cheerio. It was delicious. The Wheat Chex in Momanita’s right jacket pocket was also delicious.
I couldn’t see it.
I couldn’t reach it, but Momanita could.
Then I had an idea.
When I cuddled, she gave me treats. She liked when I cuddled into her hand.
I climbed down Momanita’s arm the way I climbed up. I snuggled with Momanita’s fingers.
“Scientists think that the jays recognized each other.”
She rubbed my neck.
“You’re a sweet boy, Squeaks,” said Momanita. “Would you like a Wheat Chex?”
She held the tasty square while I nibbled.
About Face
“Crows recognized scientists that they don’t like,” said Momanita. “They swooped down and pooped on them.”
I polished off the Wheat Chex. It was delicious. The corn flake in Momanita’s left jacket pocket was also delicious.
I couldn’t see it.
I couldn’t reach it, but Momanita could.
Then I had an idea.
When I hopped about, she gave me treats. She thought I was brave. I couldn’t fly, but didn’t let that stop me.
I hopped across Momanita’s desk.
“To test whether crows could recognize specific humans,” said Momanita, “scientists wore masks and behaved in a way that the crows didn’t like. They captured and banded them. The crows thought these scientists were dangerous and wanted to drive them away.”
I popped up my crest and looked my bravest.
“Whenever any scientist would wear these masks, the crows would mob them. They even had other crows scold them.”
“Aw, Squeaks, you’re so brave.”
Momanita reached into her pocket and gave me the corn flake. I held it in my claw and nipped the last treat. I got them all!
“Squeaky Pie, you’re funny and cuddly and brave,” said Momanita. “You are also smart! You figured out a way to get all the treats. You persuaded me to give them to you.”
“Wait! You knew I was trying to trick you!”
I didn’t trick Momanita into giving me the treats. She tricked me into taking a test.
“Now I’ll help you write your post about how you passed the cockatiel intelligence test,” said Momanita.
“I think that we should write about how we’re not always as smart as we think we are.”
To other hootmans this sounded like squeals and whistles, but not to Momanita. She MOSTLY understood cockatiel speak. I MOSTLY understood hootman talk.
Check out Momanita’s book OPERATION HOPPER.
Momanita and I read about intelligence test for animals. You might want to read about them, too.
https://www.audubon.org/news/bird-iq-tests-8-ways-researchers-test-bird-intelligence
Anita Borgo 