Magpie is helping each other remove tracking devices...
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.