Mirror Daily

Friday, February 26, 2021
Log in
  • Home
  • National & Global News
  • Business & Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
  • About Mirror Daily
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Latest News
    • The Geological Features of Pluto Have Just Gotten Dark Names Inspired from the Underworld
    • The Abuse of Imodium
    • McDonald’s Salads are worse than their Burgers
    • US Family Sues Hospital Over Botched Tonsillectomy
    • Should We Go Back to The Moon?
    • Photo of Gay Military Men Kissing Goes Viral

Pages

  • About Mirror Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Fossil Reveals That Dinosaurs Suffered from Arthritis
  • Our Team
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Terms of Use
  • World Breastfeeding Week: Advantages and Disadvantages

Recent Posts

  • Canadian Teen Killed by Toxic Shock Syndrome on School Trip June 29, 2018
  • Donut Fries Coming to Dunkin’ Donuts Nationwide June 28, 2018
  • Kohl’s Hiring Workers for Holiday Season amid Labor Shortage June 28, 2018
  • This is How You’re Sabotaging Your Skin Safety June 27, 2018
  • SF Woman Calls Cops on Little Girl for Selling Water on Street June 26, 2018
  • Sarah Sanders Misused Official Twitter Account to Complain about Restaurant June 25, 2018
  • Man Arrested for Placing 10-Ft-Long Heroin Spoon Outside Drug Maker HQ June 25, 2018

Greater Vasa Parrots Use Grinding Tools To Get Calcium

December 16, 2015 By Melissa Gansler Leave a Comment

"greater vasa parrot"

Greater vasa parrots used pebbles to grind off calcium

(Mirror Daily, United States) – In a pure lucky discovery, researchers found that greater vasa parrots use grinding tools to get calcium, which makes them the first non-humans to reach such an achievement. The black-feathered parrots which originate in Madagascar are already known for their cleverness. However, a team of scientists fortunately found that their even more intelligent than estimated.

Lead author of the study, Megan Lambert, from the University of York, and her colleagues were observing 10 greater vasa parrots in an enclosure in the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in the United Kingdom. The floor of their entrapment was covered with cockleshells, pebbles, wood chips, and soil.

According to Lambert, they noted that the black birds were interacting a lot with the bits of material found on the floor, so they investigated further. When they took a closer look, they found that the vasa parrots were actually using smaller pebbles as tools against the cockleshells. Since seashells are mostly made of calcium carbonate, the clever birds grinded the rough pebble against their surface until it created a fine powder.

Then, the vasa parrots proceeded to lick up the extra boost of nutritious calcium. Some even used the pebbles to break the cockleshells into smaller, more manageable pieces that they could digest. As stated by the researchers, this means that the vasa parrots are the only non-humans in the world to use tools for grinding. Furthermore, they understood their need of calcium and found a way to get it.

As stated by the researchers, the parrots do not have the natural ability of mammals to store calcium in their skeleton. Thus, they resort to different methods of acquiring that extra boost. It’s believed that this is more common around mating season, due to the fact that they need the calcium for their eggshells.

Interestingly, it was observed that the males had more of a penchant for using tools. It’s believed that they’re motivated by the need to regurgitate food to females during courtship, copulation, and incubation. The males could actually provide the females the necessary amount of calcium needed for their eggshells.

However, further steady is required to see if this is a seasonal habit or frequent method. It first needs to be understood if the same happens in the wild, if it’s an innate ability, or a technique learned from others.

Reportedly, there are 300 parrot species around the world, but only a handful know how to use tools. The greater vasa parrot has just become one of them.

Image source: theinukshukstore.com

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Melissa Gansler

Melissa calls herself Poet, essayist, and naturalist. Graduated from the University of Michigan, Melissa holds a degree in Literature. Besides English, she can also speak Chinese, German, French.

Latest posts by Melissa Gansler (see all)

  • The Milky Way Seems to Have A Massive Exoplanet At Its Core (Study) - November 8, 2017
  • Teen Moms Have the Highest Risk of Developing Heart Disease Later in Life - November 3, 2017
  • Drinking Red Wine Regularly Might Increase a Woman’s Chances to Get Pregnant - October 29, 2017

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Articles

Albert Einstein in group photo

Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

June 14, 2018 By John Birks

Baobab tree in Tanzania

Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

June 11, 2018 By John Birks

UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

March 5, 2018 By John Birks

Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

February 28, 2018 By John Birks

Windows 10 home screen

Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

February 12, 2018 By John Birks

Ice Cubes

Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

February 10, 2018 By John Birks

Head of a northern gannet

Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

February 3, 2018 By John Birks

Globular Star Cluster

Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

January 20, 2018 By John Birks

The Amazon Echo Dot

America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

January 15, 2018 By John Birks

Pink plasma ball

CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

January 10, 2018 By John Birks

Teen using her iPad

Major Apple Investors Urge Company to Do More About iPhone Addiction

January 8, 2018 By John Birks

Russian spacecraft

Out-of-Control Chinese Space Station Hurling Toward Earth

January 5, 2018 By John Birks

wanning moon seen on the evening sky in between trees

Scientists Thrilled about Trump’s Initiative to Send Explorers Back to the Moon

December 31, 2017 By John Birks

Two iPhone 7 models on table

Apple Confirms Slower-iPhone Conspiracy Theory

December 22, 2017 By John Birks

Related Articles

  • Albert Einstein in group photo

    Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

    Jun 14, 2018
  • Baobab tree in Tanzania

    Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

    Jun 11, 2018
  • UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

    Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

    Mar 5, 2018
  • Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

    NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

    Feb 28, 2018
  • Windows 10 home screen

    Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

    Feb 12, 2018
  • Ice Cubes

    Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

    Feb 10, 2018
  • Head of a northern gannet

    Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

    Feb 3, 2018
  • Globular Star Cluster

    Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

    Jan 20, 2018
  • The Amazon Echo Dot

    America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

    Jan 15, 2018
  • Pink plasma ball

    CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

    Jan 10, 2018

Categories

  • Business & Economy
  • Capital & Retail Sector
  • Health
  • IT & Diversified Sector
  • National & Global News
  • Tech & Science

Copyright © 2021 MirrorDaily.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.