Intelligent Birds of Australia Drink from Water Fountain

Cockatoos in Western Sydney, Australia, have learned how to drink the water provided by public water fountains. First spotted in 2018, the birds have learned to use their feet to activate the water possibly by watching others activate the machine.

That same year, while working on a different project, behavioral ecologist Dr. Klump spotted a cockatoo drinking from a water fountain in Sydney. At first, she thought that the fountain tap was already on when the bird got there. Video evidence proved her wrong. The footage showed the cockatoo using their feet to press the button, then activating the water.

This behavior attracted attention of the media and the scientific community. However, this was not the first time cockatoos have caught the attention of news reporters and journalists. In 2018, cockatoos were also spotted flipping over heavy trash can lids in the suburbs of Sydney. This behavior spread to many other cockatoos in around 44 suburbs.

However, this was not the first time cockatoos have caught the attention of news reporters and journalists. In 2018, cockatoos were also spotted flipping over heavy trash can lids in the suburbs of Sydney. This behavior spread to many other cockatoos in around 44 suburbs.

In another region of Australia, Brisbane, other scientists have also discovered that the birds there were also learning how to turn on water fountains. Scientists were astounded and soon realized that this could not have been a coincidence since cockatoos cannot migrate. This means that both flocks probably learned how to manipulate water fountains independently.

Although there are accessible water sources nearby, scientists are still unsure why cockatoos are using water fountains to drink water. It seemed they might have been drawn to the challenge, chirping playfully as they hydrated. Soon, the researchers learned that the birds were using these water fountains regularly every day, not just as a last resort.

Cockatoos are highly intelligent for their kind because of their motor skills and ability to learn quickly. Future research may involve discovering if other birds also possess similar skills.

With their intelligent minds and ability to learn by watching, cockatoos are truly impressive creatures. It is hard to say what they might be able to achieve next.