Training a dog to fetch is one thing. But would you believe someone actually trained wild magpies to bring bottle caps in exchange for food?
Meet Hans Forsberg, a robotics and artificial intelligence expert who came up with a brilliant idea: a machine that rewards magpies with food when they bring in trash. His goal? To prove just how clever these birds really are.
It all started when Hans spotted two magpies in his backyard. Like crafty crows, they were trying to steal his lantern candles. Instead of shooing them away, he saw an opportunity. Why not put these sharp little minds to good use?
That’s how he ended up building a garbage-collecting machine, designed to give magpies a treat for each piece of trash they bring. It’s a project unlike anything most of us have ever seen!
How It Works
The machine gives food when a magpie drops a bottle cap into it. The dispenser must be loaded with bird food. Then, when a magpie adds a piece of trash to the receptacle, it receives two food pieces in return.
Here’s the process: once the trash is deposited, it triggers a mechanism that sends food through a tube and funnel to a small compartment where the bird can collect it.
The main box is powered by a Raspberry Pi system, complete with a camera, sensors, and electronics to detect every movement. Vibrating motors and a graphic user interface also keep the system running smoothly.
Training Magpies: No Easy Task!
It took Hans several years to train these magpies. First, he had to make them interested in the food he provided, encouraging them to visit often. The adult magpies, more aware of potential dangers, were harder to convince. But the younger ones? They were bolder and quicker to learn.
Hans even noticed one special chick who figured out the whole process and works hard to earn food. Unfortunately, her sneaky siblings sometimes steal her treats!
Now, Hans hopes to expand his project further—maybe even training magpies to pick up cigarette butts. His dream is to help clean up the neighborhood, one clever magpie at a time.
Take a look at the videos to see these smart birds in action!
