Corvids, including crows, ravens, jays, and magpies, are found on nearly every continent and many thrive in human dominated environments. They have influenced art and literature throughout history, and whether they inspire love or hate, they have certainly impacted the hearts and minds of the humans who share their space.
Because American crows are so common, it may be easy to overlook the fact that they are very intelligent and have complex behaviors and social structures. Dr. Kaeli Swift will explore commonly asked questions about crows, how crows have co-evolved with people, and what crows and other corvids can teach us about the nature of intelligence.
Dr. Swift earned her Ph.D. in avian behavioral ecology from the University of Washington. While there, she studied American crows, with a special emphasis on behaviors around death. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington, where she is studying the breeding ecology of the Tinian monarch.
You can read her popular science articles on her blog, corvidresearch.blog. You can also find her on X, Instagram, and TikTok at the @corvidresearch handle. Video, audio, and print reports of her research have been featured by: National Geographic, PBS, the New York Times, The Atlantic, Ologies podcast, Science Friday and many others.
Video Recorded on April 19, 2024.
