diff --git a/scripts/birth.sh b/scripts/birth.sh
index 86ae7e1..510d438 100755
--- a/scripts/birth.sh
+++ b/scripts/birth.sh
@@ -112,11 +112,17 @@ sed -i "s|__BIRTH_DATE__|${BIRTH_DATE}|g" "${AGENT_HOME}/CLAUDE.md"
 chown "${NAME}:${NAME}" "${AGENT_HOME}/CLAUDE.md"
 echo "wrote CLAUDE.md (soul)"
 
-# 4. Create heartbeat.md + memory dirs
+# 4. Create heartbeat.md (seeded with intro task) + memory dirs
 sudo -u "${NAME}" mkdir -p "${AGENT_HOME}/memory/dreams"
-sudo -u "${NAME}" touch "${AGENT_HOME}/heartbeat.md"
+cat > "${AGENT_HOME}/heartbeat.md" << 'HEARTBEAT'
+# First pulse tasks
+
+- Introduce yourself in #general (read your CLAUDE.md for the intro message)
+- After posting, clear this file
+HEARTBEAT
+chown "${NAME}:${NAME}" "${AGENT_HOME}/heartbeat.md"
 sudo -u "${NAME}" touch "${AGENT_HOME}/memory/memory.md"
-echo "created memory structure"
+echo "created memory structure (heartbeat seeded with intro task)"
 
 # 5. Write .colony.toml
 cat > "${AGENT_HOME}/.colony.toml" << TOML