Chim khôn

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When we attached tiny (nhỏ xíu), backpack-like tracking devices (thiết bị theo dõi) to five Australian magpies (chim ác là) for a pilot study, we didn't expect to discover an entirely new social behaviour rarely seen in birds.

Our goal was to learn more about the movement and social dynamics of these highly intelligent birds, and to test these new, durable and reusable devices. Instead, the birds outsmarted (khôn hơn) us.

As our new research paper explains (giải thích), the magpies began showing evidence (bằng chứng) of cooperative "rescue" (giải cứu) behaviour to help each other remove the tracker.

While we're familiar with magpies being intelligent (thông minh) and social creatures, this was the first instance we knew of that showed this type of seemingly altruistic (có lòng vị tha) behaviour: helping another member of the group without getting an immediate, tangible reward.

Bài trước: Đừng tiếc tiền tip