Overview

• Barbara Klump’s team at the University of Vienna used cameras to monitor Gelbhaubenkakadus at Sydney’s public drinking fountains.
• Out of 525 recorded attempts at one fountain, cockatoos succeeded in 41 percent of cases, with failures often caused by interference from other birds.
• Mastering the handle requires precise coordination of feet, beak and body weight and shows no gender bias, unlike their trash-can opening behavior.
• The fountain-usage technique spreads through social learning but remains confined to districts with compatible fountain designs.
• Researchers plan further studies to determine why cockatoos prefer fountain water over puddles, exploring factors such as taste and predator safety.