The magpie nest with the anti-bird spikes that prompted the research (Credit: Alexander Schippers/ Naturalis/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

Anti-bird spikes are commonplace in urban cities. The sharp pins and poles fitted on rooftops are meant to prevent birds from perching or nesting on buildings. But in an ironic turn of events, some intelligent birds are ripping out the metal rods and using them to build nests.