James Klarevas
❝ A new study published this week in the journal Current Biology about an East African bird species with a pretty small brain reveals that animals may not necessarily necessarily need to be smart to be social…
❝ Farine and his colleagues decided to study the gorgeous blue-feathered, turkey-like species in depth…They found that the local population was divided into 18 distinct social groups numbering between 18 and 65 birds each…
The groups were remarkably stable, anchored by several breeding pairs. They also found that certain groups liked hanging out with one another, meeting up at certain times of the day and around certain features in the landscape. Some groups would also spend most of the day off on their own, then meet up with another pack of bird friends to roost at night. In other words, they exhibit the same type of multilevel society as big-brained mammals…
❝ Farine (says)…these particular birds aren’t particularly intelligent.
“They don’t only have small brains relative to mammals,” he says. “They also have quite small brains relative to other birds.”
Social networking may be more of an elemental survival skill than something requiring smarts. RTFA. Reflect on critters who dash around trying to be recognized as members of the “correct” group.
“Guineas have four modes: eating, sleeping, chattering, and screaming in terror.” Mark Bowden,
“The Great Guinea Hen Massacre : Good intentions collide with dumb birds on a small farm in Pennsylvania.” (The Atlantic, December 2009 Issue) https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/12/the-great-guinea-hen-massacre/307754/
Guinea fowl are also very aggressive. We had guinea fowl on the homestead to ward off predators. Big brain, little brain, most “big brain” people go to their death with their brain in pristine condition: never been used.