Magpies are the most intelligent birds in the world. In fact, they’re probably smarter than most people realize a bird can be.
They have some of the biggest brains (compared to their body size) of any creature on earth – surpassed only by humans. They have also been shown to be able to make and use tools, imitate speech, play games, work in teams, and even mourn their dead.
They can also learn to use human tools.
Animal intelligence
Hans Forsberg is a robotics and AI expert who decided to put the magpies in his backyard to work.
Using a machine he built from electronics and 3-D printed parts, he trained the birds to find and bring him bottle caps for recycling.
In return, they were “paid” in food.
It took several years for everything to be set up and the magpies to be trained, but now they’re part of a well-oiled machine, so to speak.
The machine Forsberg made is run with a Raspberry Pi system with a camera attached to monitor everything.
The electronics and sensors on the bottom trigger the machine to dispense food, which generally consists of things like peanuts and animal kibble.
When a magpie brings a bottle cap and delivers it to the right place, the food travels down a tube to a small compartment where they retrieve it.
It didn’t happen overnight
In a story on Hackster, where he shared his tips, Forsberg said “I spent remarkably much time creating the actual food dispenser.”
Hey, at least he’s honest!
“I have trained wild magpies in my garden to trade litter for food! The whole project relies on mechanical design, electronics, software and the great opportunity to create a machine with parts from my 3D-printer. I have worked with this project to and from for several years, but now in recent months the project has had an exciting development, and as I write in the title… Now the magpies work as garbage collectors, payed with food!” he explained.
Aside from building all of the moving parts, Forsberg also had to get the magpies interested in the whole project.
So first he had to draw them to the feeder, get them to realize it was a place they could retrieve food, and then find a way to get them to trade the trash for the treasure.
The birds are so smart that any time something about the feeder changed, they became suspicious.
Luckily, their offspring were braver, so it became easier with each generation.
Eventually, he hopes to get the magpies to bring other items, like cigarette butts (the most littered substance on earth).
Nothing is perfect
While some magpies have the system down, others are content to let those birds do the work while they steal the food out from under their siblings’ beaks.
The machine does not dispense justice against cheaters.
Now, if you’re interested in creating your own bird box, you can follow the elaborate instructions on Hackster, though Forsberg recommends training the birds before getting into the tech.
Videos from each step of the process can be found on his YouTube channel and show just how much progress these little feathered friends have made.
Be sure to scroll down below for one of the many videos illustrating the fascinating piece of equipment.
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