Dumb birds?

We were sitting at Busch Gardens last week, enjoying lunch, and commenting on how food service puts way too many french fries on the combo baskets. As expected in any outdoor eating space at a theme park, the opportunistic birdies were making their presence known. And of course there were signs discouraging us from feeding the birds (and squirrels).

So my friend, who happens to have a bit of a bird phobia, decides to throw a french fry across the open space to try and draw the birds away from where we sat. The flying fry made a beautiful arc and landed about 20 feet away, with three starlings in chase. After a brief squabble one emerged victorious and perched on the perimeter fence holding its prize.

The odd part was while other birds did arrive to check out the commotion, they all start staring gaped-mouth at the ceiling expecting more greasy potato goodness to come falling from the sky like manna.