Park searches for brainiest birds

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/devon/7576874.stm

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A Devon leisure park is challenging bird owners to come forward if they think they have a cleverer bird than the park's own striated caracara.

Keepers at Woodlands say they believe 29-year-old Tina is one of the brainiest birds they have come across.

They say she can pick a cube out of two balls and pick out a colour from three balls and will drop a ball on command.

"If there is a cleverer bird in the country we want to hear about it," said falconer Geoff Pearson.

Bird of prey

"Cleverest of all to entertain all the kids I can put down three toys Nemo, Donald Duck and Miss Piglet - I ask for a different one each time and she never fails.

"Some scientists say no bird is that intelligent but Tina proves them wrong."

The striated caracara is a cross between a falcon and a hawk, and is indigenous to the Falkland Islands.

Tina arrived at Woodlands in 2000 and Mr Pearson first started noticing how intelligent she was when she would retrieve a bunch of keys and follow him if he dropped them on the ground.

The park is asking anyone who thinks they have a more intelligent bird than Tina to contact Mr Pearson at the park.