Rooks smoke out their parasites

EXETER, England, June 2 (UPI) -- Birds around an English train station have found a use for cigarette butts discarded by commuters -- using the smoke to rid themselves of parasites.

Commuters at St. David's Station in Exeter have spotted the rooks holding their wings over the smoke, The Times of London reported.

Jeff Jones, who takes the train into Exeter from Budleigh Salton, said he saw an interesting example of bird behavior Tuesday.

"They were generally flapping about when a chap flicked a cigarette butt on to the track," he told the Times. "One of the rooks swooped down and picked up the butt. It then flew around and landed on the platform, dancing around with this smoking cigarette in its beak. It looked quite comical. But then it dropped the butt on the platform and pulled its wings over it, collecting the smoke."

Rooks, relatives of crows, are becoming more common in English cities and towns, although they were mostly country dwellers in the past. Like crows, they are intelligent and have the ability to adapt to modern life.