By: Dr.Ripudaman Singh (Special Correspondent ICN Group) & Dr.Hemant Kumar ( Agriculture Correspondent ICN Group)
Crows have long been thought of as symbols of death. But despite their evil reputation, it appears that these clever birds also have a softer side.
Researchers in Germany have found that after getting into a fight, crows attempt to ‘kiss and make up’ by touching and preening each other – even if it’s with a relative stranger.
A new study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany wanted to see how unfamiliar crows interacted with each other.
The research team led by Miriam Sima and Simone Pika used carrion crows; those found in Europe to determine whether there was any difference in levels of aggression and violence between crows that didn’t know each other.
According to New Scientist, the birds were kept in a cage where food was placed; birds would fight more when the food was limited often causing tempers of a mildly aggressive nature.
The study found that after the food was gone the crow that had been aggressive would seek out the victim of its violence and ‘apologies’ by tiding its feathers.
