Australian Parrots Develop Unusual Local Drinking Habit

Fast Summary

• Sulphur-crested cockatoos in Sydney, Australia have learned to operate twist-handle water fountains using their feet and body weight.
• These birds wait their turn in queues,showing social behavior,as captured in video footage.
• Researchers documented this behavior after spotting it in 2018; it requires fine motor skills and a series of coordinated actions.
• Approximately 50% of attempts by birds to open teh fountain were accomplished, with some exhibiting individual styles for operating the handle.
• The study speculates that this innovation spread within the local bird population via observation and trial-and-error learning processes.
• Scientists theorize that cockatoos may prefer the taste or safety offered by fountains over other water sources.
• The findings are part of Australia’s “clever Cockie Project” exploring behavioral adaptability helping species adapt to urban environments.

!Cockatoo Successfully Operating Water Fountain
image credit: Klump et al., Biology Letters

Indian Opinion Analysis

This study on cockatoo adaptability underscores the broader theme of animal resilience amid human-induced environmental changes. For India-where urban wildlife interactions are prominent-this research could serve as inspiration for cities like Bengaluru or Delhi that face similar challenges involving intelligent bird species such as crows or parakeets. Documenting innovative behaviors might aid conservation strategies as urbanization escalates. By leveraging insight from projects like Australia’s “Clever Cockie Project,” Indian researchers could promote coexistence between people and wildlife through environmental design modifications suited for both humans and animals.

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