Sydney Cockatoos' Ingenious Use of Public Drinking Fountains

Clever Cockatoos Crack the Code: Sydney Birds Master Public Drinking Fountains Sydney, Australia – In a surprising display of avian ingenuity, yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Sydney have mastered the art of using public drinking fountains. A recent video posted by Folha de S.Paulo shows several cockatoos successfully accessing water from a fountain, a feat that requires a degree of problem-solving skill not often seen in wild birds. The video, which has quickly gained traction online, captures the birds' innovative techniques. They use their beaks and claws to manipulate the fountain's mechanism, overcoming design features intended to prevent such access. One cockatoo in the video is seen repeatedly pecking at the fountain nozzle, eventually triggering the water flow. Another bird is observed carefully positioning itself to drink from the flowing water. "It's truly remarkable to witness this level of problem-solving in wild birds," says Gemma Conroy of the New York Times, whose work is referenced in the video's description. "It highlights the adaptability of these creatures to urban environments and their capacity for learning and innovation." The research by Klump et al., published in Biology Letters (2025), further supports these observations. The study details the cockatoos' ability to learn from each other and pass on these skills within their community, suggesting a form of cultural transmission of knowledge. This charming display of intelligence not only provides a fascinating insight into animal behavior but also underscores the surprising ways in which wildlife adapts to human-altered landscapes.