Science

When a crow dies, other crows gather to investigate the death and learn about potential threats. According to research published in Animal Behaviour, crows will send out warning calls when they spot a dead crow, typically attracting 5-11 additional birds that mob together for 10-20 minutes while scolding loudly[^1].

This behavior serves a critical survival purpose - the crows are actively trying to identify what killed their fellow crow and remember details to avoid the same fate. "If I were to find a dead person in the woods I might be feeling sad but I'd also be alarmed and likely looking for the cause of death to make sure I'm not next," explains crow researcher Kaeli Swift[^2].

The crows' investigation can influence their future behavior. They will avoid areas previously associated with crow deaths and can learn to recognize specific humans they saw near dead crows as threats. In experimental studies, crows continued to scold and mob people they associated with dead crows even 6 weeks later, with 38% of crow pairs maintaining this response[^3].

[^1]: Corvidresearch Blog - Why crows gather around their dead

[^2]: Corvidresearch Blog - What are crows thinking when they see death?

[^3]: World Economic Forum - Crows will investigate the deaths of other crows

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Humans Aren’t as Special as We Once Thought | Other species exhibit capabilities that were once thought to be exclusive to Homo sapiens (www.scientificamerican.com)

submitted 1 week ago by usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

24 comments fedilink

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Scientists Find a New Moon Orbiting Uranus (www.wired.com)

submitted 1 week ago by some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to c/science@lemmy.ml

7 comments fedilink

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/40892139

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/40892136

It's amazing to me that we can still find new heavenly bodies within our own solar system in 2025. Not to mention the possibility that we have data that suggests there might be yet another beyond Pluto, but that's still speculative.

Science: one of the only topics that doesn't suck in 2025.

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Is Consciousness Everywhere? (thereader.mitpress.mit.edu)

submitted 1 week ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

2 comments fedilink

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Why scientists are rethinking the immune effects of SARS-CoV-2 (www.bmj.com)

submitted 1 week ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

0 comments fedilink

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Action needed on plastic additives linked to sperm decline, experts warn (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 week ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

6 comments fedilink

Action must be taken to curb the use of plastic additives linked to plummeting sperm counts, a leading reproductive scientist has warned, as splits over chemical regulation contributed to the collapse of a crucial treaty on plastic pollution.

Across the world, sperm counts have been declining at a rate of about 1% a year for the past 50 years, and human fertility has been diminishing at a similar rate, studies have shown.

Increasing levels of obesity, sedentary lifestyles and ageing populations have all been held up as possible causes. But according to Dr Shanna Swan, professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, environmental factors play the most significant role.