The full story with a link to a video clip of the bird in action can
be found at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2178920.stm

Thursday, 8 August, 2002, 18:58 GMT 19:58 UK
Crows prove they are no birdbrains

The crow is putting our closest cousins to shame.

Experiments show the humble bird is better than the chimp at toolmaking.

British zoologists were astonished when a captive crow called Betty
fashioned a hook out of wire to reach food.

It is the first time any animal has been found to make a new tool for
a specific task, say Oxford University researchers.

They believe the bird shows some understanding of cause and effect.

"It is not only cleverer than we think in this particular direction
but probably, at least in relation to tools, has a higher level of
understanding than chimpanzees," says Alex Kacelnik, Professor of
Behavioural Ecology.