Watching the crows

Yesterday, we noticed that the blackbirds/Grackles were keeping the Blue Jays from the feeder.  So we bought some peanuts in the shell, and carefully placed them on top of the pedestal from the bird bath, some distance from the feeder.  When last we had peanuts, the Blue Jays had no problem swooping down and picking them up from a flat surface.  Well, the crows discovered the peanuts.  We could see them almost stalking the pedestal.  It was as if they knew there was food in the vicinity, but weren't sure where.  The we could see them figuring out where it was, and trying to figure out how to get it.  It would appear that there are two adults and three of this year's young, although they are all almost the same size now.  Still we can identify the parents, as the young still go to them begging food.  Well, you could see the adults experimenting with ways of getting to the peanuts.  They would fly up from the ground and try to grab the peanut in their beaks. Finally they got one, and then it was almost as if they showed/taught the young what to do.  Once they figured it out, all the peanuts were gone in less than a minute.  I've heard that Crows are very clever, amongst the smartest of the birds.  I believe it.