Sulphur-crested cockatoos are well known for their destructive behaviour in our cities. You can see them most actively in more than 60 suburbs on Sydney’s south. These pesky, feathered thieves are now famous for creating havoc on bin night. Recently, though, they went above and beyond to demonstrate their brilliance by successfully controlling twist-handled water fountains. This very cool behavior definitely speaks to their adaptability smarts, as they’ve figured out how to use space built by humans in order to find sustenance.
Researchers have watched white cockatoos roosting in the middle of the Western Sydney Parklands. These birds tend to flock together at watering holes, with flocks frequently maxing out at 200 birds. In one study, nearly 70 percent of the local population tried to access these sources of potable water. Over the course of just 44 days, the cameras recorded 525 instances of the cockatoos trying to operate the bubblers. 651 of them actually won, which was a 41 percent success rate! Remarkably, marked individuals were more successful on average.
Dr. Aplin, the lead researcher on this amazing project, who studied these cockatoos for years ago, learned them deeply. He explained their repeated motion as a “highly complex” task needing delicate motor skills, not muscle power. The birds appear to grasp the fountain’s shaft and spiral with it with their toes as they torque it with their mass.
Observational Insights
The findings underscore the unusual habits of this highly specialized group of Sulphur-crested cockatoos. These behaviors are atypical, especially when compared to the non-indigenous population across Australia. One at a time, Dr. Aplin dot painted 24 individual birds on a canvas board. This approach gave her a front row seat to their actions, their interactions with the drinking fountains.
Dr. Aplin noticed that the cockatoos always chose these bubblers as their preferred water source. They give no consideration to the myriad of other alternatives out there. He stated,
“They use them as a preferred place to drink no matter whether it’s hot or if there’s other water sources available.”
The adaptability of these urban birds raises questions about why only Sulphur-crested cockatoos have developed this behavior while other species have not. Dr. Taylor reflected on this oddity, hypothesizing that certain character traits might help explain their success.
Learning and Adaptation
The social dynamics in the cockatoo group played a big role in how they learned as well. Through her study, Dr. Aplin noticed that the birds are teaching each other where they can find new sources of water. He admitted that what’s not so clear is that they actually learn techniques from each other.
The newfound abundance of resources might encourage the cockatoos to continue their efforts at fountain exploration. Dr. Aplin remarked on the potential benefits of this behavior:
“The birds do seem to learn about the source from one another; whether they learn the specific technique from each other is a bit less clear.”
That drive to experiment in order to better understand their surroundings not only makes these city slickers impressive problem-solvers, it’s an exciting glimpse into their intelligence.
“The resource is unlimited, so it is probably worth it to keep trying until they figure out the successful behaviour and, if they fail, they seem to have other water sources.”
The strong physical impacts that sulphur-crested cockatoos make on their environment open up an interesting discussion with larger urban ecosystems. Dr. Aplin emphasized the importance of creating habitats that cater to adaptable species while considering those that may not thrive in such environments.
Implications for Urban Biodiversity
Seeding biodiversity on our urban landscapes called for a patient approach to breeding possibilities, he added.
Urban design is incredibly important when it comes to accommodating so many different species. Third, it shifts the discourse toward the importance of ecological health within our growing metropolitan areas.
“Urban animals that are adaptable and have expressed behavioural flexibility and have large brains are going to try and use the habitats that we provide them with.”
He also pointed out that enhancing biodiversity in cities requires thoughtful planning.
“So if we want to increase biodiversity in cities, we need to think about increasing the sort of habitat requirements for species that might not be so adaptable.”
These observations suggest that urban design can play a crucial role in supporting various species, promoting ecological health within metropolitan areas.
