All,

Here's another story regarding 'self-retrieving' behavior by birds. This spring I photographed a Great Blue Heron on the Sammamish Slough in Redmond repeatedly picking up a stick, tossing it back in the water, picking it up again...and on and on for quite a few 'retrieves'. Here is the link to the photo for those interested:

http://www.tubbsphoto.com/-/tubbsphoto/detail.asp?photoID=1388781&cat=37217

John Tubbs
Snoqualmie, WA
johntubbs at comcast.net
www.tubbsphoto.com