First, these parrots learned to open trash cans to forage for food. Now, they\u2019ve taken it a step further \u2013 and have figured out how to turn on water fountains for a sip along with their meal. <\/p>\n
These are Australia\u2019s iconic sulphur-crested cockatoos \u2013 white birds with a yellow tuft on their heads, known for their loud, grating screech. But they\u2019re also incredibly intelligent, with large brains and nimble feet that have allowed them to pick up new habits in urban environments. <\/p>\n
The cockatoos in western Sydney, in particular, caught scientists\u2019 attention with their latest trick of drinking from public fountains. After researchers first noticed this phenomenon in 2018, they tagged 24 birds and set up cameras near fountains in the area \u2013 then sat back and watched. <\/p>\n
Throughout two months in the fall of 2019, they recorded most of the tagged birds attempting to drink from the fountains. Also known as bubblers, these fountains are operated by a twist handle \u2013 easy enough for a person to operate, but complex for an animal to figure out. <\/p>\n
Yet, the cockatoos did. They used different techniques: some would stand with both feet on the handle, while others would put one foot on the handle and one foot on the rubber spout. Then, they\u2019d lower their body weight to turn the handle clockwise \u2013 holding the handle in place while twisting their head to take a drink. <\/p>\n
They weren\u2019t always successful \u2013 it worked about half the time, and five of the 10 drinking fountains in the area had \u201cchew marks\u201d indicating cockatoos had been there before. But the success rate also meant that the cockatoos had likely been doing this for some time, said the researchers in their study, published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters. <\/p>\n
The team had studied Sydney\u2019s sulphur-crested cockatoos before; in 2021, they published another paper examining the birds\u2019 newly observed ability to lift closed trash bin lids with their beaks and feet to access the food inside. <\/p>\n
These innovative behaviors aren\u2019t just animals being amusing or clever \u2013 they show the birds\u2019 ability to adapt to urban environments, and the power of social learning among animals, the researchers said. <\/p>\n
There are some questions still unanswered. The researchers don\u2019t know why exactly the cockatoos are flocking to drinking fountains, instead of other easily accessible natural water sources in the area. At first they thought the fountains might be a backup option on especially hot days when local creeks run dry \u2013 but that wasn\u2019t the case. <\/p>\n
Other theories are that the birds feel safer drinking from fountains in public areas where there are fewer predators, or that they simply prefer the taste of fountain water \u2013 but that would need further study to determine. <\/p>\n
Now, the researchers want to know what else cockatoos can do \u2013 and any habits they may have already developed that just haven\u2019t been studied yet. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some really interesting innovations reported to us, and some examples include unzipping school backpacks and stealing school lunches,\u201d Aplin told ABC Radio. \u201cIt has become such a problem in some areas that they have to bring the school bags into the classroom rather than leaving them outside!\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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