Overview

• Observations of 525 fountain attempts showed a 41 percent success rate as cockatoos coordinated beaks, feet and body weight to release water.
• Nearly half of the individually marked birds mastered the twisting technique, suggesting rapid cultural transmission among the urban population.
• Fountain operation displayed no gender disparity and required less brute force than the cockatoos’ previously observed trash-can prying.
• The behavior remains confined to certain Sydney districts, with researchers linking the limitation to variations in fountain design.
• Scientists say the preference for fountains over puddles may stem from taste or safety factors, but further study is needed to confirm their motives.