ИСТИНА

An experimental approach to investigate some cognitive abilities of owls, the night predators, has been developed, with the Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) as a model subject. By using this approach it has been shown that the owls do not comprehend the functional role of the string in string pulling tasks. The subjects were 6 owls – all the birds that showed no fear for being tested – from a group of 12 owls living together in a bird nursery (Moscow Province). They were offered two string-pulling tasks: 1. with the bait attached to single string; and 2. with two baits attached to two strings, one of which being broken. The results and individual differences between the birds in task performance will be discussed.