Crow skiing down a roof
Why Hacker News recommends it
Offered as vivid evidence that animals, crows in particular, play for pleasure and display intelligence beyond survival needs.
What it is
A one-minute clip of a crow repeatedly sliding down a snowy roof on a small lid, apparently just for fun.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2019 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec ryanianian · 2019-04 · on “How to tell a raven from a crow (2012)”
This video of a crow repeatedly "skiing" down a roof changed my view of how animals play - I thought it was all "practice-fighting" but this crow seems to be playing "just for the fun of it". [this video]
Recommends rkagerer · 2019-12 · on “Crows could be the smartest animal other than primates”
The "Just for Fun" link[1] leads to some entertaining videos: Skiing down a roof: [this video] My girlfriend's spirit animal: [LINK] Teaming up to provoke a catfight: [LINK] Nipping a sausage: [LINK] [1] [LINK]
Recommends reducesuffering · 2022-03 · on “Crows possess higher intelligence, thought a primarily human attribute (2020)”
Whereas the nut cracking is cool for the intelligence shown towards survival, the one that truly astounds me is intelligence for the sake of having fun. Crow skiing: [this video]
Cites rewq4321 · 2020-09 · on “Newfound brain structure explains why some birds are so smart”
Somebody posted this video to a previous thread about the intelligence of grows: [this video] It rides a "sled" down a snowy roof, then carries the sled back up to the top, stands on it, and pecks it get it started.
Cites hnlmorg · 2024-05 · on “Insects and other animals have consciousness”
Magpies and other crows are very intelligent birds. More intelligent than your average bird. There’s lots of videos online of these fascinating creatures doing clever and fun things. Eg [this video]