See the Ingenious Tricks Sydney’s Cockatoos Are Using to Survive Urban Heat—And Why the World Is Watching in 2025
Sydney’s sulfur-crested cockatoos stun researchers by cracking open drinking fountains—learn how these urban birds are taking problem-solving to a new level.
- 41%: Success rate for cockatoos operating fountains
- First Known: Wild parrots unlocking public water sources
- Teams Involved: Max Planck Institute, University of Vienna, WSU, ANU
- Filmed Over: Several weeks in Western Sydney parks and fields
Imagine heading to your local park on a hot summer morning in Sydney. As you reach for the drinking fountain, a flash of white and yellow swoops past—only to see a sulfur-crested cockatoo, bright-eyed and determined, using its nimble feet to twist the handle and unleash a stream of water. It’s not a magic trick—it’s science, and it’s happening across Sydney’s sprawling urban playgrounds in 2025.
These iconic Australian birds, previously famous for their daylight raids on garbage bins in search of snacks, have now unlocked a new city secret: operating public drinking fountains. The revelation comes from an international consortium of researchers, from the Max Planck Institute to Western Sydney University and ANU, who published their findings in Biology Letters.
How Are Cockatoos Opening Fountains?
Picture teams of cockatoos queuing at dawn and dusk, waiting their turn as each bird hops to the handle. Using complex moves, the birds plant a foot—mostly the right—on the twisting valve while gripping the bubbler with the other. Through coordinated body weight and swift movements, the birds crank the fountain and, with an elegant tilt of their head, gulp chilly water. Sometimes, both feet are pressed together in what can only be described as an acrobatic balancing act.
Researchers used motion-triggered cameras across Sydney’s reserves to capture these moments, uncovering a 41% “win rate” for thirsty birds. While male cockatoos led the infamous bin-foraging trend, this innovative fountain behavior appears evenly split between both sexes.
Why Are Cockatoos Doing This Now?
Urbanization and habitat loss have driven these intelligent birds to adapt faster than ever. With natural water sources drying up and heatwaves escalating, cockatoos are leveraging human-made resources with extraordinary creativity. Their ability to imitate and learn new tricks—fast—has helped them carve out a niche few wild animals can match. Researchers observed that the drinking fountain trick spread rapidly throughout local bird flocks, indicating a high level of social learning among the population.
How Do Cockatoos Learn and Spread These Behaviors?
It’s all about curiosity and copying. When one cockatoo figures out a hack—whether it’s opening a bin or a water tap—others quickly observe, practice, and refine the strategy themselves. The phenomenon, known as social learning, creates local “urban traditions” within bird communities. This explosive adaptability makes the sulfur-crested cockatoo one of Australia’s most successful city-dwelling species.
Could Other Urban Wildlife Follow?
The rise of bird innovation isn’t unique. From clever crows in Japan using traffic to crack nuts, to raccoons solving city puzzles in North America, more species are thriving in built environments. As scientists continue to study this avian ingenuity, Sydney’s cockatoos offer a compelling glimpse of how urban wildlife could shape—and reshape—city life. For more on global animal intelligence, visit National Geographic or BBC.
How Can You Support Urban Wildlife in 2025?
If you’re in Sydney or any modern city, keep an eye out for these winged engineers. Support local efforts to conserve natural spaces and spread awareness about the extraordinary ways animals adapt. Consider reporting your own wildlife sightings to university projects or local councils.
Stay curious—Sydney’s street-smart cockatoos are proving that innovation knows no bounds!
Urban Animal Innovation Checklist:
- ✔️ Watch local wildlife for surprising behaviors
- ✔️ Support urban nature reserves and bird-friendly infrastructure
- ✔️ Share unusual animal encounters with researchers or citizen science projects
- ✔️ Keep parks clean and accessible for people—and animals
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