this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2024
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aww

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https://imgur.com/gallery/enjoy-simple-things-life-Ahez4jL

Video caption: "This bird just discovered that golf balls bounce on concrete and he's absolutely loving it."

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[–] [email protected] 166 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I assume the bird tries to break open the "eggs" it found. I know, boring explanation for an absolute funny video.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Not eggs, but prey. They use this movement to break its bones and kill it.

It's a siriema if I'm not mistaken. There are a bunch of them in the country side of where I live (Brazilian Cerrado). They are absolutely fantastic animals

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago

Ayup. These birds make the same movement with snakes and other animals to break all their bones.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

I assume the bird’s knowledge is inarticulate and all it knows is that it’s very satisfying to slam the ball on the concrete.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 5 months ago (2 children)

This is a bird called the Sereima, and what you are seeing isn't random behavior: it's how they hunt. They chase rodents and lizards down, grab them with their beaks, then slam their prey down onto rocks repeatedly until they stop moving.

Metal as hell.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Probably thought it was an egg

[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago

The bird:

"WHY THE HELL ARENT THESE EGGS BREAKING? WHAT MANNER OF BIRD LAID THESE ABOMINATIONS?"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

Didnt think about animals getting slamed on the ground. Smaller birds do this with fruita/nuts to break them

[–] [email protected] 53 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I assumed it was trying to feast on the goo inside.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 5 months ago (1 children)

TIL golf balls are filled with nutritious goo

[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago (1 children)

We were gonna wait till you were older, but it's good you know now.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

I already swallowed four

[–] [email protected] 38 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (5 children)

A surprisingly wide range of animals will engage in play behavior

Bumblebees have been shown to love having small beads around for them to roll around and on

Edit: sheer amount of people replying who can't just let the silly birb have fun. Guess what, dogs and cats derive play behaviors from predation too, doesn't mean that play ain't play.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think you're right, but i also remember learnning that some birds have learned to break nuts open using concrete, which i think is what this bird is trying to do

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (2 children)

And, that's how you get UNinvited to my parties. 🤫

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

first time was an accident. second time was for science.

Third times totally a party trick.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Do they wear the blue helmets?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (2 children)

If I'm not mistaken (resolution doesn't help), this bird is a Siriema. They use this movement to kill their prey (usually reptiles like snakes and lizards, but also frogs and small rodents). It is not playing, it is confused, thinking the ball is food.

[–] ramirezmike 16 points 5 months ago (1 children)

can't both be true though?

[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Yes

Do it once because it's instinct

Keep doing it because it's fun (had an unexpected amusing result, which is the basis of fun, really)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

It is not playing, it is confused, thinking the ball is food.

I am just picturing some alien biologist studying us

"This human is operating a video game called a FPS. It may seem like he is playing but really his instincts for self defense and attack are just misfiring. It isn't recreational it is just confusion"

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Guess what, dogs and cats derive play behaviors from predation too, doesn’t mean that play ain’t play.

Humans also derive play behaviour from foraging and predation. Play is play, and everyone can have fun, no matter the species.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

I saw a fox doing the same thing with a tennis ball some dog left behind at the park.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

This isn't play, its probing to see if it can break open the funny egg and eat it. These birds do this to all their prey.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

And he is so eager doing so. Looks like the most important task all day with him runnig up to the path. He puts everything he got into smashing that ball onto the concrete as hard as he possibly can and is all fluffed up when that thing inevitably comes down again to nearly hit him. Almost like a toddler.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

The only difference is they didn’t run so fast they fell over and started crying.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

It's a fun idea, but the bird is trying to crack the golf balls to get to the juicy egg stuff inside.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

I love this bird so much <3

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Having 2001 Space Odyssey music playing in my head while watching.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Relevant scene, for those who are out-of-the-loop: https://youtu.be/ypEaGQb6dJk&t=362

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Witchcraft!!!