How To Cash In On Crows?
Klein trains crows to pick up loose change for peanuts with Crowbox Unleashed!
Crows may be our greatest untapped natural resource. And they’ll work for peanuts. .
One scientist’s controversial idea? Stop thinking of crows a nuisance and give them job training.
Josh Klein, an animal behavior researcher in New York believes crows are much smarter than we give them credit for and highly trainable. In fact, he claims they are one of the smartest animals in the kingdom – ranking above the beloved chimpanzee and dolphin. (I knew I loathed dolphin tattoos for a reason)
Make a Killing With a Murder of Crows
At any given time there is an estimated $250 million of lost, unclaimed loose change laying around city streets. Training crows to locate and pick up the shiny bits of metal could translate into millions.
To cash in on crows Klein created a vending machine concept he calls the Crow Box where crows deposit loose change in exchange for a peanut, dispensed from the machine.
The CrowBox vending concept works but Klein hasn’t published how much money he has pocketed from his feathered labour force.
Cold, hard cash for peanuts? Let’s hope crows are not smart to enough to form labour unions!
Man, PETA is going to be pissed!
Show Me The Money
Klein gives away the design for CrowBox so how does he make money (Aside from the pimping crows?) He likely makes money on the back-end: consulting, speaking engagements (below) etc…
When you have a cause ie. Re-educating the world that Crows are mans best friend, you really shouldn’t charge for the information if you want your message to spread. Instead, your cause, properly positioned and articulated, gives you exposure and business opportunities that weren’t available to you before.
Fun Idea: Maybe Klein can run a Crow Employment Agency – helping find highly skilled crows jobs?
I wonder if you can train crows to sort the change and package them into rolls?
Josh Klein at TED Talks discussing Training Crows For Cash
SPOTTED: Jason Bax
SITE: CrowBoxUnleashed.com
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I totally agree that crows are extremely smart. Can we get him in for a live demo @ Stanley Park? And trained teams of crows that clean up street garbage instead of create them.
Rosa Lin,
Crows as city workers? Good idea! At least they won’t stand with cigarettes and shovels in hand watching 1 crow work!
Jason, this is truly “unusual” and left me with a new respect for the pesky little black birds. Completely unexpected information, but beautiful message of synergy.
Now I’m wondering if I can train that one that keeps buzzing my place to go pickup a couple thousand coins a day for peanuts?
Michael, why not train the crow to do your bookkeeping?
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What happens when the crows start to raid outdoor restaurants waiting for bills to be paid!
That’s the advanced training program. I call Operation Crow Bill