Crows Make Art

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm fascinating by this example of crows making art, not just for themselves, but for human friends. 

Of all the animals that have interacted with humans, crows are the first I've seen make an exchange of material goods.  I'm not sure whether they mean it as a gift economy or a barter economy, but it's happening more than once.  That they would go beyond found items (which many birds and some small animals enjoy) to making  things is especially interesting.  

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I'll note that for all the fancy economic classifications we humans have, the different economic systems blur into each other a lot.

Complicating things is that while trade can be 'I give you X you give me Y' it can also take many other forms. 'I'll give you this, you'll give me that' possibly years later. Or the gift-economy 'I give you something to build a relationship.'

Do crows trade/gift goods amongst themselves?

Do they trade/gift other symbiotic species (such as wolves)?

Do they make or collect art for themselves?

Also, might they be learning that gifts->humans=food, and then that idea is culturally transmitted? Like cooperative human-dolphin fishing, the invention of writing, religion, etc?

I hope we aren't the new crow gods...we'd muck it up horribly!

[(Anonymous)]

On the upside, corvids don't only remember who does them good, they remember who does them dirty, and IIRC they teach it to others, so if we *do* muck up being the new crow gods, we won't have the job long! :)

--Jessica

[(Anonymous)]

I still don't want to be a god. Too much responsibility / hassle.

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That is awkward considering that human bodies are actually communal organisms. Your symbiotes rely on you to provide a habitable environment, feed them properly, and not smite them unnecessarily. The main difference between that and divinity is that it's a lot harder to parse the prayers from your symbiotes than it is from worshippers.

Re: Well ...

[(Anonymous)]

I guess that makes sense.

At least I dont have do deal with my symbiote asking me to make them rich, curse their neighbors, etc.

Mostly I don't want folk looking at me /talking to me like I'm a wonderful divine being; I'm not.

Microbes don't talk or stare at you with big sad eyes; and they don't chase you with rocks and pitchforks when mad. Them I can deal with.

[pronker]

Marvelous post and perhaps the parents taught the youngsters?

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That seems likely.