An endangered Hawaiian crow is able to use tools

STATES CHRONICLE – An endangered Hawaiian crow is one of the most incredible discoveries that scientists have made. Researchers from many countries said that Alala (this is how it was named) is able to use sticks as tools to find food. Some would think this is not so important. However, you should know that one percent of all species of birds are able to use sticks to provide food.

Researchers used data from 109 birds that were living in the San Diego Zoo. They discovered that 104 of them could use tools without any help from the humans. Scientists said that those birds had no training and most of them had a very good skill of using stick tools. As Christian Rutz, the main author of the study said, it seems that tool use is part of the natural actions for the species.

This discovery comes at the right moment. The Hawaiian crow is an endangered species. The birds do not longer exist in the wild and they were put in a captive program. The fact that they are able to use sticks as tools could help them to survive.

Researchers want to release 1 2 Alala in a natural area reserve this month. If the birds will survive, they want to release 12 more Hawaiian crows each year, during the next four years. Scientists will have to watch them close because there was a failed attempt  a few years ago. At that moment, 21 Alala died because they were not able to survive in the wild due to disease and other animals who hunt them.

Scientists wanted to be sure that the birds had not seen other animals using the tools. This is why they isolated them and waited to see how they are going to get their food.  This ability could have developed in time because the crows had to work a lot to find food. It seems that the Hawaiian crow knows that by using a stick, it will be able to survive.

These actions make them similar to humans.  We try to get food and other resources no matter how hard it could be.  We developed technology to make our life easier. That stick could be the technology Alala needs to live in the wild. Do not forget that the Hawaiian crow is an endangered species and every skill can help it.

Image source: Public domain image