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Birds Are Aware Of Road Speed Limits, Conclude Researchers
Two scientists working together in France have concluded that birds can comprehend the different speed limits on roads set by humans. Before you call them crazy, we should make it clear that they are not saying that birds can actually understand road signs, but understand fairly well that cars travel faster on some roads than on others.
The two scientists, Pierre Legagneux and Simon Ducatez, came to this realization while travelling back home from their lab each day. Over a period of time they noted that on a road with 50 km/h speed limit the birds flew away when the car was about 15 meters away, whereas the distance increased to 75 meters on a road with a 110 km/h speed limit.
"What was really cool is that birds did not respond to the speed of the car but rather to the speed limit of the road section," says Legagneux. "It was like they were able to read road signs - although they obviously do not."
The researchers believe that the birds perceive the cars as predators and have learned that these ‘predators' are faster (or more dangerous) in some areas and slower in others. And hence they respond accordingly, reports New Scientist.
The scientists also say that birds wait longer before flying off during Spring and the converse is true during Autumn. This, they believe, could be because younger birds, during Spring, are still learning and they are more active during Autumn.
Ornithologists find this behaviour fascinating and say more research needs to be done in this area. It may not be documented, but it is common knowledge that birds in the city are bolder than their rural counterparts. Crows being classic examples.
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