The Extremely Brief And Premature Synopsis

At a laboratory studying bird behaviour, it is observed that a crow is able to make a hook to get at some food in an awkward location. It is soon discovered that Blackie's tool making abilities are much deeper than this. He has for some time been getting out of his cage after hours to tinker with the lab equipment and had learned how to use a computer. A chimpanzee may have taught him to read, and write. quietly watching scientists and lab techs at work has taught him other useful things.

The story of Blackie:

Characters:

* Blackie: Amazing crow... A Wondercrow
* Scientist One: Who is on to Blackie. both foil and antagonist to Blackie. protective of Blackie's secret, (secret being how smart he really is).
* Scientist Two (Three, & etc.): supports scientist one - all scientists are like clones of one another
* Lab Tech: bright guy (or girl) - a little subversive. Only human with a face. (???) Side Kick)
* Lab "boss": admin type. spoiler. Outside world - to be kept at bay.
* Press: Press - radio, newspaper TV - cliche reporters
* other birds & animals.
* online community - a bird fancier website with a very active forum.

Blackie finds out about an evil plot to upset equilibrium
becomes centre of plot.
acts with help of lab tech (sidekick) to save the world.
Scientists, press, Lab Boss and all others some what hapless and uncomprehending of Blackie's heroic adventures.

Story so far:

* A Lab is studying animal behaviours. Crows in particular.
* Blackie is observed solving a problem of how to get some food by making a hook out of a piece of bent wire.
* There is some fuss about this.
* At the same time there is something funny going on with the security system.
* The alarm goes off and is then disarmed.
* A security camera is installed and it catches a grainy image of a large bird flying around in the lab.
* Scientist figures it out and confronts Blackie - They work something out. Mutual self interest -
* Blackie helps with research...
* Blackie gets run of lab and spend his evenings causing mischief on the Internet.
* Discussions about difference between animals an humans (aim at undermining classifications) - meaning of tool use, their production - Evolution, Blurring of lines.
* Blackie designs and builds very complex tools for obscure tasks. Has a Bat Man like arsenal of weaponized paperclips.
* Leaves lab from time to time (scientific conferences, press briefings, super hero missions, etc.) always stops along the way for a bit of road kill, shiny objects or pointless mischief.

Et, Deja la.