It is common knowledge that I love animals. And if I’m being honest, which I am, I sometimes like animals more than humans. Depending on the human, mostly.
Over the years, one animal species I have enjoyed seeing is birds.
Magnificent creatures, aren’t they? Imagine just sitting where you are right now and deciding you want to fly to some other location. And away you go. Lickety-split. That is exactly what our bird friends do. By design and by thought.
One of my favorites of the bird world is the crow.
Crows have gotten a bad rap in certain cultures. It’s because they are black, I think. Just like black cats are considered a bad omen. And no one wants to adopt a black dog.
But getting back to crows. They are super, quadruple, ginormously intelligent.
Their communication skills with one another are astounding. Their ability to use tools is keen. And their place of interacting with other animals is uncanny.
But they have some mysterious behaviors, too. One of those things is called “Anting.”
And “anting” isn’t just for crows. More than 200 bird species show anting behavior. This involves fanning their wings out on the ground and picking up insects, which are usually ants. They cover their feathers with these ants.
It has been hard to study because capturing a photo of the behavior is rare. Ornithologists have known about anting since about the 1830s. And. After all this time, they are still unsure of the “why.” Those bird experts have several theories about why birds might want to cover their feathers in the six-legged critters. Like, perhaps all these birds might use the ants to soothe their skin during molting, or they might be encouraging the ants to release formic acid, which keeps pests away. Although, some would say ants are pests.
But back to Crows.
Crows have a plethora of odd and impressive behaviors for researchers to investigate.
For one, they can solve puzzles.
Also, they can be trained to dispose of trash.
Research published in September suggests that crows have a form of consciousness because they are capable of subjective experiences. I’m unsure about those experiences, but I’ll trust the report.
But the explanation behind anting remains elusive. There have been numerous studies on this behavior, but nothing to suggest the true reason behind it.
So, why do I bring this up? Why do I think it is interesting?
Well, for one thing, there seems to be some kind of symbiotic relationship between the crow and the ant. There appears to be a special agreement for exchanged services. Scientists have been focusing on how the crow uses the ants in the behavioral scheme. But I suggest that it might be the other way around. Perhaps the ants are the ones who are benefitting. Perhaps they have asked the crows for a favor.
No matter what it is, there is an exchange. There is a communication between the two species. And that, to me, is exciting and incredible.
It is like the old children’s tale, when the mouse removes the thorn from the lion’s paw. They talk. One needs the other. Services are exchanged. Favors granted.
And so goes the crow and the ant.
Which brings me to this: Our world is amazing. And we get to be a part of it.
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“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France
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“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” – Charles Darwin
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“Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. They live with greater peace than people do.” – Gregory Maguire
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“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.” – Mark Twain
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The ant and the crow. We are lucky to be here for this.
