I know why the caged bird sings.

— Maya Angelou

Bird smarts

I'm having a little survey about bird intelligence. Send me your lists of the five MOST and the five LEAST intelligent birds. I'll compile the results here.

Some sample responses:

  • I have African grays and actually have worked with Dr. Irene Pepperberg (and helped her proofread her Harvard Press scholastic work). In fact, I have extensive experience with native North American birds as a rehabber as well as personal experience with several species of parrots and cockatoos. But the close tie — and possibly superior bird to the African grays in intelligence — so far seems to be the New Zealand Kea. These alpine parrots flourish in snow and are truly astonishing in their ability to adapt and survive (Mercedes Lackey, cyberspace)

  • Parrot is number one for smarts. And I'd go with the raven as second. Are you counting penguins on your list? Are any individual thinkers? Not sure, but maybe they are on the lower scale. And I think the mourning dove has less than the average "bird brain." I wonder where chickens are on the continuum? (Anita Bergh, cyberspace)

  • Crows and ravens get our vote for bird intelligence. We have watched the crows' coordinated harassment of hawks, putting walnuts on the road so cars can break them
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    open, and taking two years to teach their young the ways of the world. Top of the list for intelligence! Anyone who has ever watched a dove try to build a nest knows what bird has a lock on the bottom rung of the intelligence ladder. (The Millers, Livermore)

    Dear Gary:

    I enjoy your column concerning backyard pets and wildlife and thought I might share this guy with you.

    The back story is that my wife and I are relocating to a small town up near Arcata called Blue Lake. We recently completed the purchase of our home there and were up there last weekend moving in a few things.

    We were awakened Sunday morning to the sound of a crowing rooster, which according to the neighbors we met the night before, didn't belong to anyone. We were trying to figure out where the sound was coming from, and when we looked out our back window "... there he was "... in our own yard. He was still there when we left Monday.

    We have four hens of our own that will be making the trip north with us. This could get interesting.

    Keith Morison,

    cyberspace

    Dear Keith:

    Looks like you now have a rooster to go with your hens.

    Now how do you suppose that rooster knew you were bringing four hens back up there with you?

    This could "... make that "will" "... definitely get interesting.

    Keep us posted!

    Beastly things to do

  • 4th Annual Purrcasso Art & Craft Sale and Gala, 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at 715 Hearst St. (at 4th Street), second floor, Berkeley. This fundraiser will help benefit the shelter animals at Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society. Admission is free. More details at www.berkeleyhumane.org.

  • Solano County Adopt-a-thon, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Petco, 161 Plaza Drive, Vallejo. Solano County Friends of Animals will be there with dogs and cats to adopt. All their cats and kittens have been fostered at private homes, and they know them personally. So ask about them.

    Dear Gary:

    What can be done about squirrels in the attic? We can't seem to keep them out. Any good repellents or other solutions?

    Nick Waranoff, Orinda

    Dear Nick:

    Nothing repels squirrels like strong screens on all the attic vent holes.