35 False 'Facts' That You Wrongly Believe (And 1 That You Should)

15. Mother Birds Will Abandon Their Babies If A Human Touches Them

Actually, they won't. It's a bit like the thing about drowning after eating. Seems the only way our parents could think of warning kids away from touching baby birds that they found on the ground was to insinuate a fatal outcome for the baby bird into the scenario, rather than just explaining what would likely happen in factual, logical terms. The thing is, birds don't have highly developed olfactory ability - i.e. they don't actually smell very much at all - so they're unlikely to notice a human scent on either their babies or their nests. They might be a tad frazzled if they fly away and come back to find their nest has been disturbed, but generally if a bird takes fright and leaves the nest, whether temporarily or permanently, it'll be because of some specific visual trigger, not the smell of a dirty human. Even if a baby bird was picked up from the ground and replaced in its nest - regardless of whether or not it was supposed to have been out of the nest already - the likelihood of the mother bird rejecting it because it had been touched by a human being is virtually zero. In fact, unless she observes the manhandling as it happens, she's unlikely to even know.

14. Chameleons Change Colour To Blend In With Their Surroundings

No, they actually don't. The multi-coloured thing is more to do with communication than blending in. Chameleons already do a pretty decent job of blending in with the surrounding environment without having to change colour and scientists agree that's not the purpose of their highly specialised - though not unique - ability. Many studies over many years have found that chameleons change colour in response to light, temperature and mood. Often it's a visual clue for other chameleons, triggered by feelings of aggression, territorial protection or a desire to mate. So sometimes it's a comfort thing, other times its a communication tool. The brain simply shoots a message through to the cells that affect the change and, in as little as 20 seconds, the chameleon can be an entirely different colour. At rest, a chameleon is usually a shade of pale green. They generally turn a much brighter shade, typically yellow, if they're angry. And if they're ready to get down and dirty, they'll more-or-less show off every colour of the rainbow and then some, giving a clear indication of their less than honourable intentions.