Interesting.
Just a couple of years ago, researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently on on segment of the Mass Pike, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu.
A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone’s relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.
However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colors of paints appeared on the bird’s beaks and claws. By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car.
The MTA (Massachusetts Transit Authority) then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills.
The Ornithological Behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause: when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger.
The scientific conclusion was that while all the lookout crows could say “Cah”, none could say “Truck.”
Droll. Very droll.
:-)
:)
Snicker
Farfetched?
Run over a goose and the state will come at you with full force.
Some years back, I struck and killed four birds at once while driving. It was during the winter, and these four birds were in a tight flock, following the leader, like the Blue Angels. The leader decided to swoop down in front of me when I was going 40 mph, and that was that.
As I looked in my rear-view mirror, I saw the four little bodies go skittering around on the road.
Proof that single-point-of-failure mishaps can happen in the animal world too.
Thanks!
It’s a rare day when I wake up to a shaggy dog story.