I've read that cultures which practice forms of delayed satisfaction have higher rates of some other beneficial bologna. For example, in Japan, everyone parks their cars backwards. I have no idea what benefit this bestows upon this culture, but as an American it drives me totally insane because just park the damn car already.
Anyway, having Fig has taught me that Crows have quite a high level ability to delay satisfaction, suppress impulsive behavior, or plan for the future, depending on how you look at what they are up to. For example, it is not at all uncommon for Fig to let herself go hungry if she knows that I am coming home soon, and I may have something yummier in tow, than what she has in her food bowl. She is quite capable of rejecting food which she likes very much when she is hungry, if she suspects we have left over roast beef still in the fridge (we never have left over roast beef because there are no regular ovens in Japan, but just for example). Her ability to suppress her hunger, her impulse to satisfy her hunger, to bet on something better is remarkably strong. And she not only stashes food, but stashes the good stuff for later, "planning for the future?" or at least saving for a rainy day. I would say these impulses are stronger than they are in humans. In fact, it seems to be a characteristic of Crows to exhibit this savings account behavior. Maybe being wispy little balls of feathers and bones is more precarious than being obese tubs of lard, and this behavior affords them a bit of needed insurance by measuring out resources over time. Hunger might kill a meesly bird in days, where plump humans could go weeks.
Anyway, this behavior got me thinking what else Crows might be delaying, suppressing, saving, in order to plan for the future. This year, three Crow families in my area have all produced only one off spring. That got me wondering if Crows exhibit the ability, for whatever reason, to do family planning? Either by culling eggs from the nest (abortion), or abandoning eggs all together for a season (infanticide), I cannot even suspect they would consider canibalism, or maybe they can even physically decide how many eggs to lay, or fertilize. Questions, questions???? Perhaps they would do something like this due to overpopulation of their territory, or food shortage, or other environmental stress. Maybe reproductive pairs just want a break after raising 6 young the previous two years running.
I have no idea if they do this. It is just a question that occurred to me. It seems like a possibility given their natural inclination, and ability to ration food.
Anyway, having Fig has taught me that Crows have quite a high level ability to delay satisfaction, suppress impulsive behavior, or plan for the future, depending on how you look at what they are up to. For example, it is not at all uncommon for Fig to let herself go hungry if she knows that I am coming home soon, and I may have something yummier in tow, than what she has in her food bowl. She is quite capable of rejecting food which she likes very much when she is hungry, if she suspects we have left over roast beef still in the fridge (we never have left over roast beef because there are no regular ovens in Japan, but just for example). Her ability to suppress her hunger, her impulse to satisfy her hunger, to bet on something better is remarkably strong. And she not only stashes food, but stashes the good stuff for later, "planning for the future?" or at least saving for a rainy day. I would say these impulses are stronger than they are in humans. In fact, it seems to be a characteristic of Crows to exhibit this savings account behavior. Maybe being wispy little balls of feathers and bones is more precarious than being obese tubs of lard, and this behavior affords them a bit of needed insurance by measuring out resources over time. Hunger might kill a meesly bird in days, where plump humans could go weeks.
Anyway, this behavior got me thinking what else Crows might be delaying, suppressing, saving, in order to plan for the future. This year, three Crow families in my area have all produced only one off spring. That got me wondering if Crows exhibit the ability, for whatever reason, to do family planning? Either by culling eggs from the nest (abortion), or abandoning eggs all together for a season (infanticide), I cannot even suspect they would consider canibalism, or maybe they can even physically decide how many eggs to lay, or fertilize. Questions, questions???? Perhaps they would do something like this due to overpopulation of their territory, or food shortage, or other environmental stress. Maybe reproductive pairs just want a break after raising 6 young the previous two years running.
I have no idea if they do this. It is just a question that occurred to me. It seems like a possibility given their natural inclination, and ability to ration food.
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