Outsmarted man: crows use anti-bird spikes to protect their nests (6 photos)

This is a mockery of us: crows defend nests from people with thorns that man created to protect against birds.





Crows and magpies are known to be among the most intelligent birds. They have long adapted to the urban environment and have learned to live wonderfully in next to a person. Birds eat our food, live on our rooftops and even build nests out of human debris.

Also, these birds often use sharp objects to to protect the nest from the enemy: branches are usually used in the forest, and in the city - wire, nails and other sharp things.



But recently scientists have come to another startling conclusion: crows build nests not only from hangers, they use anti-bird spikes to protect their offspring from the enemy. Agree, this like a mockery of nature to use our weapons against ourselves?

Bird spikes are popular in many countries. They are groups of long needles, which are installed in places where birds are undesirable. For example, their can be seen on window cornices or roofs of buildings. Although the needles are sharp enough that they won't injure the birds, but prevent them landing on the roof can. This simple device does not allow you to make a nest in unwanted places, as well as to protect the building from litter contamination.



However, the birds decided that these needles are an excellent material for building their house. For the first time such nests were discovered by ornithologists in Antwerp in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It was so surprisingly, scientists decided to look for similar nests in other places. It is worth noting that the search was successful: nests of thorns were found also in other cities in Belgium, the Netherlands and also in Scotland.



Biologists found the most impressive nest in Antwerp. It was built on a tree that grows next to the city hospital. It was a magpie's nest, and about 1,500 spines were counted in it, which stuck out in different directions. It's easy to guess where these needles came from: the magpie pulled them off the roof of the hospital. Scientists have studied anti-addictive spikes on the roof and found out that about 50 meters of these fixtures. All that was left of them was glue!



Agree, this is an incredible irony - nests-fortresses, made from the thorns we create to keep birds away? Ornithologists were so amazed by the unusual nests that they named them "beautiful revenge" to all of us.