Towards the end of July the Biopsychology lab departed for its first grand retreat towards Bavaria. On the first morning we enjoyed the impressive research station of our host Princess Auguste von Bayern in her castle Leutstetten. Her outdoor aviaries and her insights in Social learning and Tool use of her New Caledonian Crows fascinated us as much as her heartfelt kindness. The picture was taken in front of her castle. Then came the excursion to the Max-Planck-Institute for Ornithology with lectures of Manfred Gahr, Nils Rattenborg, Henrik Brumm and Holger Görlitz. We could use their excellent facilities on Saturday for our own series of presentations, showing up future ideas and synergies in our department. The last day was spent as a guest of Auguste's father on the Ritterfestival where some of us unfortunately were sentenced to tarring and feathering. A somehow fitting punishment for members of a lab working with birds...