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Re: Jimmy
Very likely, Naut. I'm not exactly sure how long they had to be studied to determine all of this behavior, but it makes for an interesting tale, doesn't it? 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 9:51 AM
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Jimmy
I nice example of evolution at work...
posted by
Nautikos
on February 1, 2013 at 6:38 AM
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Re:
That's probably true, C C T. Kinda like if the bees stopped pollinating certain flowers, they would die out as well. There's a harmonic balance in nature that a lot of people just don't seem to appreciate. 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 5:55 AM
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Re:
It really is, Justi. I've never heard of those clay-eating parrots, but it doesn't surprise me. Like I wrote, nature has a way of taking care of its own!
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 5:50 AM
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Re:
You're very welcome, chuck. Yeah, nature is quite amazing. If more people spent more time learning and understanding it, there may be less problems in the world.
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 5:46 AM
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Re: Re: Re: truly an amazing story and who would think it, little birds and somehow
Thanks, Kabu. And thank you, Mr. Graysome! Purr received! Mmmmmm . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 5:44 AM
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Re: JimmyA
As always, you're quite welcome, sir!
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2013 at 5:43 AM
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That is really weird Jimmy but as the old adage says "one man's meat, is another man's poison." I suppose if the birds did not eat the berries the plants would probably have ceased to exist. 
posted by
C_C_T
on January 31, 2013 at 11:54 PM
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There is a parrot that eats some poison fruit and immediately after eats from a bank of Kaolin Clay to do the same thing. Yes Nature is truly wondrous!
posted by
Justi
on January 31, 2013 at 10:45 PM
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Wow this is really amazing. This nature and its secrets is amazing. Thanks for your visit and the read.
posted by
Chuck_E_Ibrahim
on January 31, 2013 at 7:13 PM
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Re: Re: truly an amazing story and who would think it, little birds and somehow
I did and he agrees with everything that you say. He is sending you a purrr
posted by
Kabu
on January 31, 2013 at 6:09 PM
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JimmyA
Thanks for your comment in my post my friend.
posted by
WileyJohn
on January 31, 2013 at 5:15 PM
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Re: Wow!
I'm not sure, slam, but I'll bet it was a little bit of "trial & error" to discover this! Kudos to those first few birds who sacrificed themselves before the discovery of the volcanic ash!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 1:55 PM
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Wow!
Who told the birds?
posted by
slam
on January 31, 2013 at 1:53 PM
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Re:
Interesting thought, lustor, but somehow I have the feeling that there was just something in these bird's systems that the ash reacted with that made them immune. Humans may not have the same internal factors, and therefor, it may not work the same for us. Would you be willing to try it . . . consume some volcanic ash, then eat a bunch of poisonous berries hoping you'll survive? I think I'll stick to cultivated berries myself! 
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:47 AM
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Re:
And I'm sure, adnohr, that She probably does it with better methods than we can come up with! Thousands of years from now, every trace of our existence will probably be wiped away, but Mother Nature will still be rolling along!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:43 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Thanks, Wiley. Always nice to be able to pass along such things of interest to an appreciative audience!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:40 AM
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Re:
Thanks, sam. I had seen this story some time ago, but it had always stuck with me simply because of the uniqueness of it, and the amazing fact that it was only this one species of birds who figured it out!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:39 AM
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Re:
And I think, lovelylady, that a lot of people might actually benefit from paying closer attention to nature and what it can teach us! I know I love to learn about such things!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:37 AM
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Re: Interesting, how nature works to keep life going on a grand scale.
That's very true, Ciel. From what I've learned, if you're in an area where there are any primates, they are the ones to actually watch, to learn what is edible, and what should be avoided. That's how the Japanese soldiers survived for so long in the jungles of Burma during WW II without supplies. Nature teaches the animals, and they in turn pass it on to us . . . if we're paying attention!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:35 AM
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Re: truly an amazing story and who would think it, little birds and somehow
I know, Kabu, I know! Someday people will realize that many animals are much smarter than most of us give them credit for. But what am I saying? Just ask Mr. Graysome . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:31 AM
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Re: Wow, I love stuff like this!
You're very welcome, Katray. It would be nice if people did realize the extreme intelligence of the various species of the animal kingdom. Yeah, I love stuff like this too!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:29 AM
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Re:
Neither did those naturalists, FSI. It really is amazing what nature teaches us sometimes, although I don't think the same concept would work with humans! At least I know I won't be eating any volcanic ash anytime soon just to sample some poisonous berries!
posted by
JimmyA
on January 31, 2013 at 7:27 AM
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maybe those guys should get that ash and sell it to help build the immune system
posted by
Lanetay
on January 31, 2013 at 6:56 AM
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Interesting! Yes, Mother Nature has a way of doing things right.
posted by
adnohr
on January 31, 2013 at 4:15 AM
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JimmyA
Very enlightening post.....
posted by
WileyJohn
on January 30, 2013 at 8:09 PM
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I think that it is amazing and that was an amazing story, too! sam 
posted by
sam444
on January 30, 2013 at 7:17 PM
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It certianly is, Jimmy A.
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on January 30, 2013 at 5:28 PM
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Interesting, how nature works to keep life going on a grand scale.
Years ago, when I was learning about edible wild food, it was drummed into us that we could not count on birds to show us what's safe for humans to eat. Especially red berries. What is a tasty treat for birds can be highly toxic to us!
posted by
Ciel
on January 30, 2013 at 4:03 PM
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truly an amazing story and who would think it, little birds and somehow
they figured this out. Dumb animals...yeah right!!!!!!
posted by
Kabu
on January 30, 2013 at 2:45 PM
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Wow, I love stuff like this!
Incredible, but then again we really shouldn't be amazed....Humans need to realize we aren't the only species with brains that work..:) Thanks for sharing..
posted by
Katray2
on January 30, 2013 at 11:02 AM
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I did not know that migration could have such an impact on what birds eat and that volcano ash could work in such a way.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on January 30, 2013 at 9:26 AM
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