Cockatoos Crack the Code: Smart Birds Open Trash Bins—and Now, Public Water Fountains

Australia’s sulphur-crested cockatoos are at it again—and they’re smarter than ever.

Already famous for figuring out how to open household trash bins, these clever birds have now learned how to operate public water fountains to get a drink—proving once more just how impressively adaptable they are in city life.

From Rubbish Raiders to Hydration Hackers

It started in western Sydney, where researchers first spotted the white birds with their unmistakable yellow mohawks—known for their loud screeches and playful personalities—messing around with fountains back in 2018.

Curious, scientists tagged 24 of the birds and installed cameras at public drinking fountains (also called bubblers). What they discovered was nothing short of remarkable: over a two-month period in late 2019, most of the tagged cockatoos were filmed attempting to operate the twist-handle fountains—and many succeeded.

How Do They Do It?

The technique is surprisingly sophisticated. Some cockatoos stand with both feet on the handle; others balance with one foot on the handle and another on the spout. Then, they use their body weight to rotate the handle clockwise—just like a person would—while twisting their head to drink.

It doesn’t always work—about half the attempts fail—but the wear-and-tear on five of the ten monitored fountains (hello, chew marks) suggests they’ve been doing this for a while.

“These aren’t just party tricks,” said researchers in their findings, published in Biology Letters. “They’re evidence of serious social learning and problem-solving abilities.”

A History of Innovation

This isn’t the first time these feathered urbanites have wowed scientists. In 2021, the same research team published a study documenting how cockatoos in Sydney had learned to lift the lids of garbage bins to scavenge food—a skill that spread from bird to bird across neighborhoods.

The implication? One inventive cockatoo can spark a whole trend, thanks to how socially connected and observant these birds are.

“Cockatoos are among the smartest birds out there,” said Dr. Lucy Aplin, a behavioral ecologist at the Australian National University and co-author of the study. “If one genius bird invents a new trick, others can quickly catch on.”

Why Fountains? The Mystery Remains

While the ingenuity is clear, one big question lingers: Why fountains?

Researchers initially assumed the cockatoos might be turning to fountains on hot days when natural water sources ran dry—but data didn’t support that theory. Now they’re exploring other possibilities: maybe the birds feel safer around humans in public spaces, or perhaps they just enjoy the taste of clean, flowing water. Further study is needed.

What’s Next? Backpack Raids and School Lunch Heists

The possibilities for future discoveries are wide open.

Researchers have already received reports of cockatoos unzipping children’s backpacks to steal school lunches—a behavior so common in some areas that schools now keep bags indoors to avoid snack theft.

“We’ve had some really fascinating innovations reported to us,” Aplin said. “These birds aren’t just surviving in urban environments—they’re thriving by being curious, social, and ridiculously smart.”