As far as I can tell, it doesn't confer any particular advantage for survival; prey animals aren't shiny---with the possible exception of beetles, with their shiny shells--and neither are naturally-occurring nesting materials or members of the opposite gender. So why is it, then, that birds such as crows and magpies will steal small metallic objects if given the chance?
2006-11-18 14:46:49 · 10 answers · asked by Sheba 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Could be nesting issues. When I was little me and my sisters went to the park, birds I think crows would swoop down and pull our hair out. We have (had, years ago) shiny black long hair. I remember our mom saying the birds need stuff to make their nest, and giving us sugar water cos now I understand my mom saw how scared we were. I see nests here that have fallen from a tree with shiny things embedded in them, I am wondering if the crows think the brightness will calm their chicks. Will research. Thank you for an intriguing question that has brought back childhood memories.
2006-11-21 00:15:19 · answer #1 · answered by lin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are the first person I have ever heard say that birds like shiny things. I live in California where there are a lot of orchards nearby. We put up shiny aluminum in the trees to keep the birds from eating the peaches. It works on my apricot trees as well. Maybe it's just California birds that don't like shiny objects. Ha Ha.
2006-11-18 14:53:05 · answer #2 · answered by Cynthia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shiny things are everywhere from a glistening stream to metals in rocks. Crows and magpies are intelligent birds and are fascinated with many things not just shiny things.
2006-11-23 14:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey... Don't WE tend to do pretty much the same thing??! And don't you think we should know alittle better than crows & magpies? Maybe what it means- is that crows & humans have this in common; we'll steal anything that glitters- if given the chance... :)
2006-11-18 15:01:40 · answer #4 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shiny is eye catching and attractive to a bird. The shinier the better to play with.
2006-11-23 19:32:44 · answer #5 · answered by karmor_22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Birds have natural obssesion with shiny things because most other things a bird can't see because birds are color-blind so they like shiny things.
2006-11-18 14:51:01 · answer #6 · answered by chevygirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hold on I'm going to go ask my bird .
2006-11-18 16:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not completely sure about this one
2016-07-28 02:37:44 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its attractive i suppose
2006-11-18 14:47:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks everyone for answering
2016-09-21 00:46:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋