When the little beasties are out, the first thing Gnus does is fly to Yolka's green mat for rolling around on it, while Yuinya flies up to her perch. Then Yuinya goes to the kitchen to do something there, while Gnus checks every corner and comes back to their shack. Guns's feet are aching due to his old age. He's just a year younger than Chuchundriy, so he is elderly too.
If you don't see an answer to yesterday's top question, it's because I haven't had the time to write it, as the zoologist and I are out God knows where to get grass for the harvest mice at the zoo. But I'll be sure to answer the question later.
Never mind, I had enough time!
Question:
"Анастасия Агеева
1 day ago (edited)
I have a question regarding owl intelligence and sociability. Nika, you once said that owls aren't very smart and kind of "autistic" compared to corvids or parrots, and that they're not interested in interacting with people. But as I watch videos of various owls, I can see that they all behave differently. Are some owl species more sociable and interactive than others, or is it a sign that the bird is not in good health? Can an owl actually "befriend" humans or other animals, missing them when they're gone? What owl species would you consider more intelligent?"
Answer:
Behaviour and sociability vary between different owl species. The same goes for behaviour of owls that are of the same species, but different ages. Owls less than a year old are more friendly, curious and sociable. But it's probably got more to do with personality than intelligence.
Some owl species (e.g. eagle-owls, earless owls, snowy owls) appear more calm and sluggish (in reality they're just saving energy), while others (e.g. little owls, burrowing owls, barn owls, hawk-owls, etc) are more active and busy. Due to their small size, they have a very fast metabolism, as well as specific small prey, so they have to be more mobile for finding food.
Owls that interact better with humans are the species that socialise more amongst themselves in the wild. That's why barn owls tend to enjoy interaction more than Ural owls or great grey owls.
An owl will only miss its owner if it's imprinted and perceives the owner as its mate.
For birds, friendship is a mutually beneficial coexistence. So if an owl doesn't pounce on your face, doesn't try to smack you on the head and accepts food from you, then it considers you a friend (a useful symbiont).
The more intelligent species are those that can survive and reproduce successfully in their habitat. If a species is thriving in its habitat, then it can be considered intelligent. Dumb individuals don't survive in the wild.