Parrots are not just hanging out for fun. According to biomechanist Michael Granatosky of the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, parrots are specialized for climbing and moving around in the trees. Granatosky and his colleagues conducted an experiment with four rosy-faced lovebirds to see how they would move on a suspended bar that was just 2.5 millimeters in diameter. The birds used a cyclical side-swinging motion with their beaks and feet to travel along the bar at an average speed of 10 centimeters per second. This behavior was an innovative solution to a novel problem and demonstrated the intelligence of parrots. This study was not only fascinating but also sheds light on the remarkable abilities of these birds (SN: 1/26/24).
2024-01-30 19:01:00
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