TIL sparrows remember which humans are mean to them

I was talking to my neighbor Betty last week while she was refilling her feeder. She told me she read a study that says sparrows can actually remember individual people and will avoid someone who chased them off before. I thought she was joking until I noticed my own backyard birds scatter when my nephew visits but stay put when I'm around lol. Guess I need to be nicer to the little guys if I want them to keep coming back. Has anyone else noticed their birds acting different around different people?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_william2d ago

Betty's dead on with that study, I've seen it in action with my own eyes. Makes you wonder if the sparrows gossip to each other about which houses are safe and which ones got that cranky guy who yells at squirrels. Kinda wild to think we're being judged by a bunch of birds every time we step outside.

roberts951d ago

That bit about sparrows gossiping to each other got me. My buddy Tom told me his neighbor is an old guy who chases off pigeons with a broom, and now his whole block is basically a bird-free zone because they apparently spread the word. Said he watched four sparrows fly in, see the guy come out, and they all dipped out together like they had a group chat about it.