Friday Fun: Snowboarding Crow [video]


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Jason G. GoldmanJason G. Goldman is a graduate student in developmental psychology at the University of Southern California, where he studies the evolutionary and developmental origins of the mind in humans and non-human animals. Jason is also Psychology and Neuroscience Editor for ResearchBlogging.org and Editor of Open Lab 2010. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. Follow on Google+. Follow on Twitter @jgold85.

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--> Jason G. GoldmanJason G. Goldman is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. His research focuses on the evolution and architecture of the mind, and how different early experiences might affect innate knowledge systems. He received his B.A. in Psychology in 2007, and his M.A. in Psychology in 2009, both from USC.

In addition, Jason is a freelance science writer. His blog The Thoughtful Animal, which discusses behavior and cognition in humans and animals, has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, SEED Magazine, the National Geographic Channel, the Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News-Observer, and USA Today. He has also contributed to Scientific American, The Guardian, and LAist.

Jason writes about psychology and neuroscience, with a special focus on animal cognition and the evolution of the mind. What does it mean for a cognitive skill or capacity to be truly innate? How can the environment take the basic building blocks of cognition and push them around in different ways? How did those building blocks evolve? How do they develop throughout the lifetime? Understanding the animal mind can help us better understand the evolution of the human mind.

Jason is also Psychology and Neuroscience Editor for ResearchBlogging.org and Editor of Open Lab 2010. You can also follow him on twitter, on Google+ and on tumblr. His professional website is http://www.jasonggoldman.com

Jason's beautiful banner image, featuring a bonobo, common dolphin, and blue jay, was created by Carl Buell. - - jgold85 Contact Jason G. Goldman via email.
Follow Jason G. Goldman on Twitter as @jgold85.-->

This video (via Al Dove on twitter), which appears to be from Russia, shows a crow (can anybody confirm the identity of the bird?) engaging in an activity that can only be described as play. There is at least some scientific evidence (behind a paywall) that corvids, as well as some species of parrots and other social birds, do engage in play-like behaviors. This particular instance is remarkable as it does not only show play, but also a form of tool use!

Teaser photo used under CC license

Jason G. GoldmanAbout the Author: Jason G. Goldman is a graduate student in developmental psychology at the University of Southern California, where he studies the evolutionary and developmental origins of the mind in humans and non-human animals. Jason is also Psychology and Neuroscience Editor for ResearchBlogging.org and Editor of Open Lab 2010. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. Follow on Google+. Follow on Twitter @jgold85.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=0c75a79ff88cba2b8878b545ddd32fe5

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