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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Parrots can make complex economic decisions, scientists discover The parrots would refuse an immediate reward and instead choose a token that could be exchanged for a better reward later. Scientists have found that parrots are capable of making complex economic decisions. In tests, 33 parrots from four different species surprised scientists with their ability to recognise the value of tokens that could be exchanged for food rewards. The birds – macaws and African greys – were able to make difficult decisions about whether to accept an immediate reward, or instead “invest” in tokens that guaranteed a more worthwhile return later. High, medium and low value rewards were on offer – namely a piece of walnut, a nugget of dry corn, or a sunflower seed. Economic decision makers In a series of tests, the parrots consistently rejected disappointing immediate rewards and chose the token – but only if its value corresponded to higher quality food. The results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, showed that the birds were capable of making “deliberate and profit-maximising decisions”, according to German scientists behind the study. Parrots can make economic decision, the study found (Getty Images) This is a fascinating indication that such decisions may matter greatly in their natural environment Dr Auguste von Bayern Lead researcher Dr Auguste von Bayern, from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Starnberg, said: “Given that wild parrots are so difficult to track, to date we know little about the ecological challenges most parrots encounter in their habitats in the wild, such as deciding where to go and how long to stay in a given feeding site. “However, in our experimental setting we have found that they are capable of making surprisingly subtle decisions to maximise their payoff while minimising their effort. “This is a fascinating indication that such decisions may matter greatly in their natural environment.” Parrots like chimpanzees The hand-raised parrots – nine great green macaws, eight blue-throated macaws, eight blue-headed macaws, and eight African greys – performed as well as chimpanzees taking part in similar tests, the scientists said. Two great green macaws (Ara Ambigua) perch on a branch (Getty Images) The experiment took place at the Max-Planck Comparative Cognition Research Station in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, where the birds were housed in eight aviaries. The most impressive of the parrots were the great green macaws, which made the right decisions significantly more often than would be expected by chance in every test. Read more at: inews.co.uk/news/long-rea...s-south-africa-false-bay/ Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: Ada, *The hook-nosed Jew* (#0)
They're jewish?? Who would have thought....well, they DO have a hook-nosed beak, right? :p
#2. To: X-15 (#1)
Yes, but do they like marshmallows?
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