Training Crows

[Cognisant]

I saw this thing on Reddit about using crows to collect cigarette butts, they drop them into a device and it rewards them with a food pellet. Someone on Youtube had a similar idea but instead was trying to train crows to collect coins, he seemed to have some success although his device wasn't very reliable.

I'm considering trying to do this myself, starting by luring the birds to my balcony with decoys and food. Hopefully progressing to hand feeding them, then I can demonstrate to them how to work the device.

 

[kora]

Link? I've always been obsessed with crows.

 

[Cognisant]

http://www.crowdedcities.com/

 

[Pyropyro]

I remembered a creepypasta where the dude trained crows to bring him coins in exchange for food. Suddenly the crows stopped bringing coins and presented human teeth instead.

 

[kora]

Of course the coins would have to pay back the cost of making the device and supplying the food, if the aim is making a profit.

 

[Cognisant]

Yeah I think it would take a long time to turn a profit, unless I can somehow teach them about paper currency...

One lucky find could make it all worth it.

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

Don't let the crows read Karl Marx. They will fuck you up and hand the device over to the state.

 

[Hadoblado]

Shaping techniques can teach really complicated behaviours.

Of course, your crows might not know the difference between finding and stealing...

 

[kora]

Yeah I think it would take a long time to turn a profit, unless I can somehow teach them about paper currency...

One lucky find could make it all worth it.

Also it makes you like an insanely cool person.

They definitely have a comprehension of quantity so larger coins or more worthwhile ones could release more food XD