Another Government Study Provides outstanding Results
CSIRO Officials admitted that they found about 200 dead crows on the highway between Noonamah and Palmerston, in Northern Territory, where there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu.
The Territory Government approved and the CSIRO contracted a bird pathologist to examine the remains of all the crows and he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, much to everyones relief.
However, he determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, and only 2% were killed by car impact. (Didn't know there was a difference!)
The Territory Government then hired an Ornithological Behaviourist to determine the disproportionate percentages for truck versus car kills.
After 18 months of research and $2.7 million spent, the Ornithological Behaviourist determined the cause in the deaths.
When crows eat road kill, they always set-up a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger.
His conclusion was, that the lookout crow could say, Cah but he could not say Truck.
I just wanted to make sure that you knew your tax money was being well spent.
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'Once you are infected with the travel bug you have it for the rest of your life - there is NO cure'
True story. I (and my offsider) were en route to a court case in a rural town. We came across a few crows on the road who decided that they weren't moving. A quick blast on the siren established our superior right of way and they reluctantly hopped off the road........all bar one. This crow was obviously part of some subversive group and stood his ground causing me to brake and swerve. The crow decided to be a martyr to his cause and no matter what I did, said crow countered every evasive manoeuvre I tried. However there was no thump or puff of feathers and we figured that the forces of evil crows had been thwarted by the forces of niceness and we continued on to our court case. The encounter had left us a little short of time but fortunately and empty car space was right outside the court door. With appropriate decorum, we hurried into the court and plead our case. During said case, the clerk interrupted proceedings and whispered frantically in the magistrate's ear. The magistrate pondered for a time and stood our case down for a short period. He then called all 'plods' to chambers for a discussion. He suggested we return to our police cars and examine them. Upon return to my vehicle I found that the terrorist crow had succeeded in his evil and cunning plan. There he was jammed beak and head first into the grille with wings still flapping in a feeble yet final blow against the forces of freedom and democracy, looking for all the world like some Andy WORHOL demented hood ornament. A crowd of bystanders had also gathered, including our defendants who we were prosecuting for a cruelty to animals charge.
snip.......We came across a few crows on the road who decided that they weren't moving. A quick blast on the siren established our superior right of way and they reluctantly hopped off the road........all bar one. This crow was obviously part of some subversive group and stood his ground causing me to brake and swerve. The crow decided to be a martyr to his cause and no matter what I did, said crow countered every evasive manoeuvre I tried. However there was no thump or puff of feathers and we continued on...snip snip......There he was jammed beak and head first into the grille with wings still flapping in a feeble yet final blow against the forces of freedom and democracy, looking for all the world like some Andy WORHOL demented hood ornament......snip
Apologies for the snips Keith, on the subject of grille decorations, I was at a roadhouse on the Nullabor when a large tourist bus pulled up, stuck in the grill was a huge wedge tail eagle (not moving). When the driver got out and saw it he and one of the passenger started to pull it out, the eagle came too and started struggling and when freed flew off into the distance.
I hit one (eagle) once on the front top of the campervan I had then near Uluru, hit the top of the front roof with a thump and when I pulled up it had gone, must have bounced off....