Wild cockatoos in Sydney, Australia, have mastered the method of drinking from twist-handle fountains by turning the handle with their feet and using their weight to hold it open. They even queue up to quench their thirst while waiting at the fountain, video footage shows.
The behaviour could be a new local tradition, according to a study published Wednesday (June 4) in the journal Biology Letters, which analysed videos of cockatoos showing off their fountain-driving skills.
Urban animals exhibit remarkable flexibility. The rapidly changing urban environment can encourage animals to find solutions to new challenges. Some urban birds adapt their songs to be heard over noise pollution or use artificial structures as a substitute for their natural habitat for nesting. Research shows that larger brain size and greater innovativeness are associated with birds living in cities, suggesting that species with the capacity for invention and problem solving tend to be better suited to urban life.
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