Rook uses stones to raise water level and get food 1

[feketepuss]

I'd like to know the scientific justification for providing the "tools" to the rook after it has been shown the problem.  Is the rook actually deducing what to do and visualising a solution, or would it perhaps have put the stones in the tube (for whatever reason) had there not been a worm. Given the dreadful record for this sort of research in the past, I'm a little disappointed that they aren't being more rigorous.

[SupraJulie]

@feketepuss The point is that you could try the same thing with your dog or your your cat and they wouldn't figure it out in 100 years even if they are the Einsteins of their species.. All sorts of birds in the crow family have been shown to used tools in the wild however showing them doing it in a laboratory holds more scientific weight.

[tsuji4]

wow that's amazing! He's smarter than I ...

[mastershake1000]

Haha, wow amazing.

[RuudJH]

This would be more special if the bird had come up with it on it's own.

Clearly this is a routine taught well.

[awtns4hm]

AMAZING!!!

[rainm2000]

what a amazing..

[besirovic]

Very smart animal

[empath123]

so was the rook shown what to do before hand or did he work it out for himself?

[bartoszrybacki]

There is a car driving school near my house, and I have observed rooks that are throwing walnuts just before the car, when it's driver is practicing parking. Then of course walnuts are cracked by wheels.

When lessons are over, rooks move to another place.

[Phloxicon]

It didn't even hesitate. Clever bird :D

[HumanStrategy]

A yet we say we're so bright. There are some little kids who wouldn't be able to solve this one^^

[kingskidbornagain]

Amazing! He's smarter than some people.

[atosov]

What I would like to know is whether this is the first time that the rook was presented with this problem. I find it hard to believe that he could have figured out the use of the stones without some priming or previous trials.

[yaykaboom]

they have been doing this for years..i cant believe u guys just noticed it...