Cockatoos Master Water Fountains, Sparking Joy and Curiosity

Quick Smiles:

• Cockatoos in Australia have learned to operate drinking fountains using their feet.
• Researchers refer to this behavior as an “urban-adapted local tradition.”
• The birds’ preference for fountains over nearby streams remains a delightful mystery.

When Barbara Klump, a scientist, first observed cockatoos manipulating a water fountain in Australia, she was filled with curiosity.

The sight prompted a cascade of questions: How did they acquire this skill? Why choose the fountain over a stream? Could this behavior be taught among the cockatoos?

Klump, an ethnologist at the University of Vienna, embarked on a video research project to explore these queries.

Initially, she assumed the water was left running by someone. However, video evidence revealed the birds’ clever use of their claws and body weight to operate the spring-loaded handle.

Her findings, published in a scientific journal, describe this as a unique “urban-adapted local tradition” among sulfur-crested cockatoos.

“They’re so innovative and good at problem solving that they seem to eventually figure out a solution,” Klump shared.

She added, “In a weird way, cockatoos constantly surprise me, but I’m also never that surprised.”

The study noted that only 41% of observed attempts by the cockatoos were successful in activating the fountain.

Over 44 days, just 46% of 525 attempts resulted in a refreshing drink.

The cockatoos perched precariously on the handle, using one claw to twist it while the other gripped the spout.

The reasons behind their preference for fountains over nearby streams remain speculative.

Klump suggests a few possibilities: the allure of cleaner water, reduced risk from predators, or simply the joy of mastering a challenging task.

There might also be a social aspect, akin to a ‘watercooler effect,’ as the birds line up patiently on a nearby fence.

This behavior raises another intriguing question: why do they wait?

Some cockatoos would linger for up to 10 minutes for their turn, despite the stream being just a short flight away.

WATCH the cockatoos use the fountain and wait their turn…

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