• PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    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.

    • Lyre@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      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

    • ancap shark@lemmy.today
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      5 months ago

      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.

        • PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world
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          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)

      • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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        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”

    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      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.

    • KittyCat@lemmy.world
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      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.