4 Mar 2020

Problem solving kea can judge statistical odds

From First Up, 5:34 am on 4 March 2020

Kea may be best known for their irritating cry and tomfoolery, but it turns out the tricky green parrot isn't so different to humans when it comes to problem solving. In a paper published today in Nature Communications, University of Auckland experts found the birds can judge statistical odds - a level of learning only ever seen before in infants and great apes In a range of tests at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, kea worked out choosing a particular coloured token always led to a food reward, and even managed to learn which of their rangers was most likely to pick the token they wanted. Study co-author, psychologist Alex Taylor spoke to reporter Rachel Thomas about the findings.