Australian birds are setting stuff on fire on purpose

[Stormbuster]

Reminder that these birds are actually in cahoots with flammable, poisonous trees in Australia, which have also decided that they just want to see the world burn.

Eucalyptus trees have evolved flammable oil that is highly toxic to ingest in order to ignite wildfires on purpose as well as having fire-retardant trunks, and react to the effects of infernos by dispensing more of their poisonous, fire-loving spawn into the world and probably enjoy having their bird minions feast on the pain of others because it means more death and destruction which is just what Eucalyptus saplings need to grow strong. Pine trees also use a similar strategy in many cases.

[Baconheart]

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;53045895]Is this instinctual behavior, or are the applying actual problem-solving? Because birds can be really fucking smart.[/QUOTE]

Probably problem-solving, our birds aren't half bad at that. For example, they've also figured out exactly where the toxic parts of cane toads are and how to flip them over and precision peck around them so they can eat one without dying.

[JimisHalpertis]

Also the emus are ready for Round 2 so pray for your brothers in the Australian outback because they're fucked. Fire has only made the emus stronger.

[ExplodingGuy]

Ten months later: a video pops up of a raptor striking two rocks together next to a pile of dry sticks.