That’s Saying Something

Two Great Blue Herons are scanning their surroundings, seemingly in search of good fortune, trouble, or something hidden. The third heron appears ready to speak. Each exhibits a distinct attitude and obvious intelligence. Artist Emil Morhardt, who has been observing birds for many years, refers to this quality as "Alien Intelligence." While it is not artificial, its true nature remains a mystery. How did this intelligence come to be, and how different is it from human intelligence? Emil explains that the more he photographs and paints these birds, and the more he studies artificial intelligence, the less certain he feels about what he knows.