Clever cockatoos are teaching others the tricks of the trade

@JudyEv (326601)
Rockingham, Australia
July 26, 2021 8:05am CST
Australia has some very lovely birds, as does every country I guess. One of our outstanding parrots is the sulphur-crested cockatoo. I sometimes think birds are much smarter than we give them credit for and that fact is affirmed in a news item I read recently. Some of the sulphur-crested cockatoos have learnt to open the lids of our wheelie bins to get to the food scraps inside. It seems they are teaching others of their species this trick too. But what I found very funny was that cockatoos in one suburb use a different technique to those in another suburb. I wonder if they ever get together to compare notes.
26 people like this
28 responses
@LadyDuck (460346)
• Switzerland
26 Jul 21
Animals are incredibly smart and they share their tricks with the others too. This cockatoo is beautiful.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (460346)
• Switzerland
27 Jul 21
@JudyEv I noticed the crows here teaching to the magpies how to wet the bread in the water before eating.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
It's amazing that they are teaching their tricks to others.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (460346)
• Switzerland
28 Jul 21
@JudyEv They do, the crows drop walnuts on our wooden deck to break them, I find the empty shells all the time.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111413)
• El Paso, Texas
26 Jul 21
I read about them in the news yesterday. Interesting how animals learn how to raid our trash bins to get at food scrapes. It also makes me wonder why people don't have designated areas to throw food they won't eat so the birds and other kritters can have a snack.
5 people like this
@rebelann (111413)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Jul 21
But flies are food for some birds so it could prove beneficial ..... I read an article a while back about a community in a farming district that would take their biodegradable food leftovers to an area inside woods some miles away so that bears and other kritters would have something to eat. Makes sense to me as anything that is food we no longer want to eat should not be wasted by throwing it away in a trash bin.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
That might be a good idea but people wouldn't abuse the privilege and throw out stuff that would just go rotten and attract flies. I'm a bit surprised you read about it in your news. I guess it's a human/bird interest filler. lol
4 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
@rebelann That's true too and nice to hear that a community is doing something similar.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
26 Jul 21
Hey Judy! It’s been awhile and thats one lovely and smart cockatoo!
3 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
26 Jul 21
@JudyEv Glad to be back here too Judy.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
Good to see your name again. Yes, cockatoos are pretty smart.
3 people like this
@just4him (308498)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Jul 21
If they don't, they probably should. One of them might have an easier way to break into those bins.
3 people like this
@just4him (308498)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Jul 21
@JudyEv Yes, it is. I just had a silly thought about a cartoon with the cockatoos getting together to talk about breaking into the bins.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
@just4him maybe it's not so silly!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
That's true. It's amazing that they are learning from each other.
3 people like this
@thelme55 (76479)
• Germany
26 Jul 21
This animal sounds an intelligent and smart one.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
They are certainly smart. Crows are really intelligent too.
3 people like this
@thelme55 (76479)
• Germany
29 Jul 21
@JudyEv That is good to know.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203449)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Jul 21
I have always heard about how smart these birds are. He looks very cool.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
The yellow crest is always so bright. He looks cool indeed.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203449)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Jul 21
@JudyEv A cool dude.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (171124)
• United States
26 Jul 21
I saw something about that on FB. Cockatoos have a brain the size of a walnut, about the same as a cat, but somehow in the way the neurons are concentrated or something since their heads are smaller, makes them smarter.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
They can certainly learn plenty of tricks and can understand a lot of words too.
3 people like this
@much2say (53941)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jul 21
They sure know how to problem solve - and then teach others. If only humans could learn better from them! I had friends that had cockatoos .. . they really are so clever and beautiful!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
They can learn so much if we're patient and try to understand them.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (62706)
• United States
26 Jul 21
They are stars of nearly every bird show I’ve ever seen. I imagine that means they’re quite intelligent and learn quickly….so yes, they’re probably comparing notes.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
Maybe they run a 'school for bin-openers'.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (96370)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Jul 21
Many animals are smarter than we think. That is funny they do it different ways
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
I think there are a lot of animals that know more than we give them credit for.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Jul 21
I've only seen cuckatoos on tv but they do seem very smart.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
It's amazing what some of them can learn.
2 people like this
@Dena91 (15934)
• United States
26 Jul 21
That is funny they do it different in each suburb I think all animals are much smarter than we give them credit for.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
I totally agree. We just need to learn to communicate better.
3 people like this
@dya80dya (34139)
26 Jul 21
This bird is so cute.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
They are very pretty. The pink and grey galahs are pretty too. This one was playing on a wire.
1 person likes this
• India
26 Jul 21
Wow the bird looks so cute
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
They're very pretty when they raise their crest to show the yellow feathers.
3 people like this
@popciclecold (35606)
• United States
26 Jul 21
It sure sounds like it, they are beautiful birds. Thanks for the photo. Just awesome.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jul 21
@JudyEv Yeah, it's a great photo.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 21
The sulphur crest is very bright. I'm glad you liked the photo.
2 people like this
• Chile
27 Jul 21
It must be a wonderful thing to stay with so beautiful birds.
2 people like this
• Chile
27 Jul 21
I want to touch them lightly
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
We had a lot of birds at our previous house but not so many here.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
27 Jul 21
animals are really smart
2 people like this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
27 Jul 21
@JudyEv you are right there
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
I think they are much smarter than we give them credit for.
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (19057)
• United States
27 Jul 21
I read that too. Animals are smart. One of my uncle's cats loves to open cabinets.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
Cats often learn to open doors, don't they?
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
27 Jul 21
@JudyEv Have you ever had a cockatoo as a pet?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
No. My mother had budgerigars and canaries but not cockatoos.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
27 Jul 21
@JudyEv Do they talk?
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26778)
• United States
27 Jul 21
Hunger drives them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326601)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jul 21
Yes, I guess so. Hunger would be a great motivator. lol
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26778)
• United States
28 Jul 21
@JudyEv Interesting though.
2 people like this