Not So Bird-Brained

Contrary to supposed eyewitness reports, jokes and a popular online urban legend, penguins do not topple over like dominoes when airplanes fly overhead. British Antarctic Survey researcher Richard Stone spent five weeks in the Antarctic watching penguin behavior as helicopters and planes flew past. “As [aircraft] approached, the birds went quiet,” he said. “They didn’t appear to turn around and look. Not a single bird fell over after 17 flights.” (Reuters) ...Well of course they don’t do it when they know someone is watching!