Do you have the memory of a crow?
It appears that humans aren't the only ones with exceptionally good long-term memory. Crows not only remember individual faces over long periods of time and even seem to be able to communicate to other crows information about the people in question.
That animals, especially birds, have good memories is not all that surprising. That they remember human faces so well is striking.
There is an ongoing debate in the literature about whether the fact that humans are so good at processing faces is because we have specialized neural circuitry for human faces. Given that humans are an intensely social species, it would make sense for us to develop special face-recognition systems. It remains to be seen just how good crow memory for human faces is (the study in question is limited in some ways), but if their human face perception is very good, that would call for a very interesting explanation.
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Crows remember crow killer
I heard the talk show host Dori Monson tell a story about how he shot and killed a crow in his back yard. The incident was wittnessed by other crows. For months after he shot the crow, if he walked out on to his back deck, within minutes there would be a gang of crows flying outround his back yard diving at him in screetching. If his wife walked out there would be no problem. This clearly demonstrates face recognition.
Crows Ability Demonstrates Ihherient Oneness
One reason crows have exceptionally good long-term memories might be a function of an exceptionally good visual abilities, coupled with the lack of potentially intrusive and distorting thoughts, common in human subjects; capable of misrepresenting that which is perceived. Personally, I recall, to a greater extent, any information, visual or otherwise, that is clearly defined and delineated, especially if I do not harbor any preconceived notions or expectations. Crows operate on a level of simple consciousness, lacking the capacity of self-awareness.
True, not all species of animals, with simple consciousness, have this capacity to recognize faces. Why, crows have this ability is a question for specialist in animal behavior. Certainly this is a survival skill. The ability of crows to recognize human faces is not the fundamental issue. What is at issue is the need, in terms of their behavior and survival, to recognize, and recall in great detail, particular information, necessary to forage, and survive, as a species.
The ability of crows to recognize human faces is an analogue, consistent with, as yet, undefined survival skills, or needs, played out in their natural environment and habitat. This should be obvious.
This discussion about crows ability to remember faces, is possibly based upon, on the one hand, the assumption that human primacy in all domains of cognition is superior and unique, and finds surprising that other species harbor similar abilities. Or, on the other hand,that other species share similar abilities, and therefore expand our innate connection to the inherent oneness of all life.
I am sure we will discover worthy connections and similar behaviors with many fellow species. What then? You decide. Food or friend?
Johnbrady says: >>Crows
Johnbrady says:
>>Crows operate on a level of simple consciousness, lacking the capacity of self-awareness.<<
But tests have shown that if you show a crow a mirror, it is aware that it is looking at itself, rather than at some other creature. Surely almost by definition this implies some degree of self-awareness?
Johnbrady says:
>>The ability of crows to recognize human faces is an analogue, consistent with, as yet, undefined survival skills, or needs, played out in their natural environment and habitat.<<
Recent laboroatory tests on crows (rooks) have shown the to exhibit very sophisticated tool-use and tool-making strategies, despite the fact that they have never been observed to use tools in the wild.
Is it not possible that crows are just clever?
Wow, cool.
Great little bit of information - I love learning new tid-bits like this!
-Christie
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