A group of Australian ecologists knew magpies are a highly social species, but when the songbirds joined forces to thwart the researchers’ plans to track them, they discovered that the birds were far more altruistic and coordinated than expected. The researchers from Queensland wanted to collect data from Australian magpies using mini GPS trackers—a common tool used in animal research—to gather information such as their patterns or schedule throughout the day. They also sought to investigate how age, sex or dominance rank affect their activities. But within minutes of attaching the trackers to the birds, they pecked them off. This was captured on video until the birds left the area. “This behaviour demonstrates that magpies have both cooperation and a moderate level of problem-solving,” the report published in the Australian Field Ornithology said. Animal ecologist and co-author of the study Dominique Potvin observed that one magpie would snap another bird’s tracker. …