Cultural Insights: Cockatoos and Their Urban Innovations
Written on
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon of Urban Cockatoos
In Sydney, Australia, an astonishing behavior has emerged among the sulfur-crested cockatoos. These birds have begun to open suburban garbage bins in search of food, a behavior that is not typical for them and seems confined to specific neighborhoods. But how did this curious practice originate?
If you have a passion for animals, consider following along!
Top 5 Animal Books to Read in 2024 that Changed My Life
If you’re interested in animals or wish to learn more about them, these books are a must-read!
Red, Yellow, or Blue: Choosing the Right Bin
Australia is home to 21 species of cockatoos, with 14 residing in the country. The spotlight here is on the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), one of the most prevalent parrot species in Australia. Known for their intelligence, these birds provide a fascinating subject for observation.
A mere visit to Sydney will reveal the captivating behaviors that set these birds apart. They are social beings, often seen foraging in groups, playing, and imitating humans and other animals. This playful nature has led some Australians to affectionately refer to them as "Clown Birds."
As residents noticed some cockatoos mastering the skill of opening trash bins, it became clear that these intelligent birds were adapting to their urban surroundings. In Australia, red bins are designated for general waste, yellow for recyclables, green for organic materials, and blue for paper.
Understanding Trash: A Learning Process
Given that birds have limited olfactory capabilities (with exceptions like certain seabirds), the cockatoos had to visually learn which bin contained food. Their keen observational skills led them to recognize that red bins were the source of their meals.
Remarkably, researchers Barbara Klump and Lucy Aplin revealed that this behavior is not merely instinctive but rather a cultural adaptation to urban life. Their study, published in the esteemed journals Science and Cell, challenges our preconceived notions about bird behavior.
Only specific groups of cockatoos in designated Sydney suburbs have adopted this bin-opening skill, and they did so through social learning—gaining this knowledge from one another.
Cockatoos Recognized as Cultural Animals
By conducting a spatial network analysis of data from the Big City Birds App, scientists from the National Australian University confirmed that this behavior is localized. Specifically, it was found that only cockatoos from three out of 44 suburbs in Sydney had learned to open bins through social interaction.
But why classify this behavior as cultural? Historically, the definition of culture has been heavily anthropocentric. Edward Tylor defined culture as a complex whole of knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, and customs possessed by members of a society. This viewpoint suggests that culture is exclusive to humans.
However, scientists Whitehead and Rendell offer an alternative perspective, defining culture as information or behavior shared within a community, acquired through social learning from peers. This broader definition allows us to classify the cockatoos' behavior as cultural, as they learned to open bins by imitating one another.
The Cockatoo-Human Conflict
This newfound skill among cockatoos has sparked a unique conflict with humans, leading to a form of "war." Residents of the affected suburbs began placing stones or rubber snakes on bins to deter the clever birds. But these resourceful parrots were unfazed, quickly finding ways around these obstacles.
As humans adapted their strategies, they resorted to blocking bins with sticks, effectively preventing the cockatoos from accessing them. Interestingly, humans also learned these strategies through social means. In a survey, 64% of participants reported adopting protective measures based on social information, with 60% crediting their neighbors or local community.
This striking parallel between human and bird behavior highlights our shared capacity for learning and adaptation. It serves as a reminder that we are not as unique as we often believe. Other species exhibit remarkable abilities, such as culture and social learning.
Perhaps it’s time to embrace humility and deepen our understanding of the incredible lives of our fellow creatures.
The cultural lives of birds - YouTube
Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance - YouTube
Thanks for reading!
See you!
Axel
References
Klump, B. C., Martin, J. M., Wild, S., Hörsch, J. K., Major, R. E., & Aplin, L. M. (2021). Innovation and geographic spread of a complex foraging culture in an urban parrot. Science, 373(6553), 456–460.
Klump, B. C., Major, R. E., Farine, D. R., Martin, J. M., & Aplin, L. M. (2022). Is bin-opening in cockatoos leading to an innovation arms race with humans? Current Biology, 32(17), R910-R911.
Whitehead, H., & Rendell, L. (2014). The cultural lives of whales and dolphins. University of Chicago Press.