Using Tools

  As humans we use tools to our advantage.  There is not a day that goes by that we are not utilizing a tool of some sort.  While most think of tools only in means of carpenter or mechanic use, pencils, eating utensils, light switches, phones, safety pins, needles, paint brushes...you name it. If it makes life easier for you...its a tool.  We never give these things (and our ability to use them) a second thought. It comes naturally.
  
  Critters use tools as well.  Maybe they are not as adept as we are but there are a good many animals that make use of tools.  The otter uses stones to crack shells.  The Green Heron smashes fiddler crabs to use as bait.  Raccoons will actually use a shell to dip water.  All are rather inventive methods and are definitely interesting to watch.  

  This afternoon, a hike took me far back around the peach orchard and into the little clearing near a huge magnolia tree.  An unusual tapping noise made me stop in my tracks.  Tap, tap, tap.  The noise was slightly metallic yet had a distinct cracking sound to it.  Stepping softly on the damp leaves, I eased toward the sound.  Between the magnolia tree and the pump shed is where Mark keeps Big Red, his tractor, parked.  That tapping was coming from his tractor!  Ok, so tractors are not supposed to tap.  I eased closer.

  A small brown bird was busy working.  Tap, tap, tap.  What in the world??  As I took one step nearer the bird, it flew to the magnolia tree. Ok, Little Wood Thrush, what had you so interested in on that big machine?  On cue, the bird dropped the remnants of its prize.  Aha!  So, you were using the tractor as a tool!

  The small bird usually dines upon insects but with most of those being far under cover for the winter, the Wood Thrush had a change in diet. The remnant piece was the shell from a garden snail.  When I picked up the shell, it was empty.  The bird had used the metal of the tractor hood as a cracking device for the shell.  After making one crack, it was easy for the bird to pick out pieces of the shell to get to the snail inside.  That is one smart bird!  I guess a snail will make a fine meal when you are hungry and I guess a tractor is a great tool for birds as well as humans.