For hundreds of years, birds have been considered stupid and incapable of advanced thought or learning; this is why the phrase “bird brain” is commonly used to denote persons who are dolts or simpletons. But… Do birds really deserve this bad rap? Are they truly less intelligent than mammals? THEY ARE NOT! In fact, recent research has consistently demonstrated that some birds have remarkably strong cognitive skills, comparable to monkeys and even, in some cases, apes. Some can form abstract concepts; some display prodigious memories; some make and use tools; and some can make complex inferences. Watch this presentation and you will discover the surprisingly strong mental abilities exhibited by a wide variety of birds. 

Kim Adelson is the President and Education Chair of the Black Hills Audubon Society. She regularly gives presentations on birds, the effects that climate change is having upon them, and how to attract them to one’s yard. She was a college professor for more than 30 years, teaching at the University of Minnesota, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand. Kim has a master’s degree in evolutionary biology and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Kim got the “birding bug” about 30 years ago, when she and her husband moved into a house in the woods and had 42 species of birds in their yard. She travels extensively to see birds – highlights include Namibia, Australia, and Indonesia to birdwatch. Kim moved to Washington 10 years ago, fulfilling a life-long dream to do so. She is passionate about preserving our beautiful habitat and the wildlife it contains.