11.
Money Sweeter Than Honey
Mr. Bill owns the company, Magic Wand Car Wash Systems that manufactures and installs car wash systems in US. Bill's company installed a car wash system in Frederick, Maryland for a gentleman.
These are a complete system including the money changer and money taking machines.
The problem started when the new owner complained to Bill that he was losing significant amounts of money from his coin machines each week.
He went as far as to accuse Bill's employees of having a key to the boxes and ripping him off. Bill just couldn't believe that his people would do that. So they set up a photo trap for the thief.
Well, they caught the thief in the act! A bunch of starlings!
The birds had to go down in the machine and back up to get to the money!
At a time a bird could knock three quarters in his mouth!
These are a complete system including the money changer and money taking machines.
The problem started when the new owner complained to Bill that he was losing significant amounts of money from his coin machines each week.
He went as far as to accuse Bill's employees of having a key to the boxes and ripping him off. Bill just couldn't believe that his people would do that. So they set up a photo trap for the thief.
Well, they caught the thief in the act! A bunch of starlings!
The birds had to go down in the machine and back up to get to the money!
At a time a bird could knock three quarters in his mouth!
It was amazing that it was not one bird; there were several working together.
Once they identified the thief, they found over $4000 in quarters on the roof of the car wash and more under a nearby tree.
Its thought that a starling was attracted to the coin that a person was putting into the machine, or when taking out his or her change. Seeing the place where the coins "appeared", the starling went to investigate, and discovered that he (males do this to attract a female) could remove the quarter and take it back to his nest or courting place.
Once they identified the thief, they found over $4000 in quarters on the roof of the car wash and more under a nearby tree.
Its thought that a starling was attracted to the coin that a person was putting into the machine, or when taking out his or her change. Seeing the place where the coins "appeared", the starling went to investigate, and discovered that he (males do this to attract a female) could remove the quarter and take it back to his nest or courting place.
Not wanting to be outromanced, other starlings learned from the original "inventive" fellow how to get "their own" quarters, which shows the intelligence and learning ability of birds.
Male birds like ravens, crows and starlings collect valuable shiny objects to impress the females. After all, girls don’t come cheap!
Male birds like ravens, crows and starlings collect valuable shiny objects to impress the females. After all, girls don’t come cheap!
