Crafty Cockies 

Cockatoos are adept adapters. In urban areas, they have been spotted prying open trash cans with their feet to find food. 

Now, a new study tracking populations of sulfur-crested cockatoos in Western Sydney has found that they have learned how to turn the handle on public drinking fountains to take a sip of water – after waiting in line for their turn to drink. 

“It’s the first time we are aware of wild parrots developing this kind of innovative drinking behavior,” study author John Martin said in a statement. “We know that cockatoos have a particularly high level of innovativeness and problem-solving, and are attracted to novelty.” 

The team used motion-triggered wildlife cameras to film the birds in action. They were observed across several local reserves and sports fields over weeks and were found to be successful in turning the fountain’s tap to allow the water to flow and then taking a sip of water 41 percent of the time. 

“We watched the cockatoos operating the drinking fountain using coordinated actions with both feet,” Martin explained. “More often than not, the bird would place one foot – mainly the right – on the twist-handle or the valve, with the other foot used to grip the rubber spout or bubbler. Sometimes they would also use both feet on the valve.” 

Then, the cockatoos lowered their weight to turn the twist-handle clockwise and stop it from spraying back while they turned their heads to drink.  

The birds mostly access the fountains at dawn and dusk, and they wait in line for their turn, perched on a nearby fence. 

“The research shows that despite challenges like loss of habitat, cockatoos are very successful urban adaptors,” said Martin. “It shows that this kind of drinking innovation can be learned and then spread amongst a local bird population, forming a new urban-adapted tradition.” 

Similar to their technique of opening trash cans, this drinking behavior was observed across the local cockatoo population. 

While the trash can-opening behavior was mostly adopted by male birds, researchers found that both male and female birds drink at the fountains, with no significant difference. 

Watch the cockatoos’ unique drinking technique here.