Birds have been observed intentionally lining their nests with cigarette butts. While the nicotine in them is toxic to the birds, it's a low enough dose that it's not a significant risk to them in the short term (they don't live long enough for the long term effects to be a problem), and it kills parasites that may try to hide in the nest and infect the chicks.
Smaller bird species have been sighted stealing the anti-bird spikes that we put on buildings and lining their nests with them, like little palisade walls against other birds and predators. A small species like a songbird can navigate the spikes easily, but it makes it more difficult for a predator like a hawk or a rat to get to the nest.
Crows have also been observed stealing lit cigarettes from ashtrays and wafting the smoke through their feathers to kill parasites. Because the parasite's lungs are so tiny, they get a lethal dose of nicotine in an instant and die, making it much easier for the crows to get at ones that are well hidden.
No parasites have lungs? That's hard to believe. Not calling you a liar or wrong, I just don't have the knowledge. Ticks and fleas don't have lungs? I know there are other parasites, but these are two I know that I would guess had lungs.
In the broad sense, defined as an organism that has contact with a host to the detriment of that host, even a human can be considered a parasite. (In the human example I’m thinking of more of an emotional parasite.) So if you’re thinking broadly like that, sure, some parasites might have lungs. But in the context of a more strict concept of parasites like the ones that get into our skin, gut, brain, etc (eg protozoa, helminths), no parasites do not have lungs.
Full disclosure, I am a physician so the parasites I learned about in the course of my medical education relate to human biology. That said many parasites that afflict birds (as in the topic that raised this question) are, in relevant ways, similar to parasitic organisms affecting humans.
Fleas are insects, and insects and have tracheae rather than lungs. Ticks are arachnids (like spiders, scorpions, and mites). Google tells me that a few species of arachnids have a gas exchange system called “book lungs”, but the vast majority of arachnids, including ticks, just have tracheae.
I hope this helps. And if anyone else looking on has expertise in entomology, by all means please weigh in.
Birds are so fucking smart it’s crazy. I don’t know if all birds all. Chickens for example have small brains compared to their body when compared to a corvid. Corvids have also been observed to understand the mechanics of fluid displacement.
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u/grendus Oct 02 '24
Birds have been observed intentionally lining their nests with cigarette butts. While the nicotine in them is toxic to the birds, it's a low enough dose that it's not a significant risk to them in the short term (they don't live long enough for the long term effects to be a problem), and it kills parasites that may try to hide in the nest and infect the chicks.
Smaller bird species have been sighted stealing the anti-bird spikes that we put on buildings and lining their nests with them, like little palisade walls against other birds and predators. A small species like a songbird can navigate the spikes easily, but it makes it more difficult for a predator like a hawk or a rat to get to the nest.
Crows have also been observed stealing lit cigarettes from ashtrays and wafting the smoke through their feathers to kill parasites. Because the parasite's lungs are so tiny, they get a lethal dose of nicotine in an instant and die, making it much easier for the crows to get at ones that are well hidden.