Crows Have Opinions

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/avian-einsteins/201211/crows-have-opinions

This article struck me, as it is somewhat similar to what we discussed for CWA 5. It discusses the abilities of crows and how humans may not be the only creatures able to make inferences even when we do not have solid visual proof. Through experimentation the researchers are able to show that the crows understand "hidden causal agents". In the experiment the crows were required to use a tool to retrieve food from inside a box. While they were doing this, two experimenters would enter the cage. One would stand in the corner with his arms crossed and eyes closes, while another went into a hide connected to the cage. Then, researchers outside would use a remote control to trigger a stick to come out of the hide towards the crows, who would be tapped by the stick if they were in the process of getting food. After the crows were able to witness the purpose of the stick and how it operated, the researchers left the cage. The "trick" of the experiment was the remote controlled stick. The crows would see the stick move, and see perhaps the researcher in the corner enter and exit, but never saw another researcher enter the hide. However, they still inferred there was someone there triggering the stick. When they saw the researcher in the corner enter and exit, they returned to foraging with no concern. When there was no human present, they exhibited more hesitance and concern for getting the food. Hence, according the researchers, the crow is acting upon things that it did not necessarily see but formed a belief or idea about.

This idea suggests that crows are in fact able to form opinions. In many classical examples of animal experiments, animals are conditioned to stimuli and responses. Normally, the crow would see the person entering the hide and expect the stick to come out. However, even when there was no human present, the crows still thought there was a chance of the stick coming out. What do you think? Is it just a case of conditioning or is it possible crows and other animals can formulate beliefs just like we do about abstract ideas like god and ghosts?