Sydney’s Smartest Cockatoos: How These Urban Geniuses Are Mastering Public Drinking Fountains in 2025
Australian cockatoos are shaking up urban wildlife science by learning to use city drinking fountains — here’s how they pulled it off.
- 41% — Success rate of cockatoos unlocking city water fountains
- 4+ Universities — Teams collaborating on latest cockatoo research
- First Recorded: Cockatoos as wild parrots opening public fountains
Sydney has become the global stage for one of the most surprising wildlife stories of 2025: sulfur-crested cockatoos figuring out how to operate public drinking fountains for a cool drink on hot Aussie days. These feathered Einstein’s aren’t just opening wheelie bins anymore — they’re now taking over human facilities, one clever hack at a time.
A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute, University of Vienna, Western Sydney University, and Australian National University documented these ingenious birds using motion-triggered wildlife cameras across Western Sydney’s parks and sports fields. The footage left researchers amazed as cockatoos coordinated their feet and beaks to spin water fountain handles and satisfy their thirst.
Want to watch the action? See the cockatoos’ fountain-hacking moves on YouTube.
Q: How Are Cockatoos Opening Drinking Fountains?
Researchers focused on the cockatoos’ surprisingly complex technique: gripping the handle or valve with one foot (mostly the right), anchoring themselves with the other, then using their body weight to twist and hold the spring-loaded control. Once the water starts flowing, the birds swiftly maneuver their heads to catch the stream—often while an impatient flock queues nearby.
Q: Does This Trick Spread Among Cockatoos?
Absolutely, scientists say. What started as a clever move by a few brave birds has now spread rapidly through Western Sydney’s cockatoo population, much like their earlier bin-foraging antics. This proves cockatoos excel at social learning, picking up urban survival strategies from each other.
In a shift from old habits, both male and female birds have mastered this trick, breaking the earlier trend where males dominated the bin-opening game.
How Can Urban Birds Adapt So Fast?
Researchers highlight that cockatoos demonstrate a remarkable knack for innovation and adaptability. Their natural curiosity and problem-solving abilities mean they quickly turn new city challenges—like accessing water during hot spells—into fresh urban traditions. Experts at Australian National University emphasize that city living is turning cockatoos into experimental survivalists, strongly outpacing wildlife expectations.
Q: Why Should We Care About This Bird Behavior?
As cities expand, understanding how wildlife like cockatoos adapt offers crucial insights for conservation and urban planning. The ability of these birds to innovate—using complex, learned behaviors to solve new problems—shows wildlife may be more resilient than we think. Organizations like the National Geographic Society frequently profile animal intelligence, but Sydney’s cockatoos are rewriting the playbook in real time.
How Can Others Support Urban Wildlife?
If you’re inspired by Sydney’s cockatoos, help keep their environment safe:
– Report issues with public facilities to your local council.
– Avoid feeding wild birds human food; support ethical wildlife practices.
– Join local conservation groups and citizen science projects through BirdLife International.
Stay tuned for more incredible wildlife breakthroughs! Share this story and spark a discussion on animal ingenuity.
Urban Wildlife Innovation Checklist:
- ✔️ Observe urban wildlife and document unique behaviors
- ✔️ Support local and national bird conservation efforts
- ✔️ Encourage city planners to factor in creative animal adaptations
- ✔️ Share the science: spread the word about animal problem-solving power
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