Australian researchers describe an innovation arms race between humans and cockatoos.
New research published in the journal Current Biology shows that residents of the city are using increasingly sophisticated measures to prevent sulphur-crested cockatoos from raiding household wheelie bins.
The 52 techniques used by humans to deter the birds from raiding the bin were documented in the study.
The researchers have previously described how cockatoos learn their bin- opening skills from one another, with the behavior spreading from three suburbs to 44 suburbs by the end of 2019.
The highly intelligent parrots use their beaks to open the bin lid.
There were 3,283 bins in the census. More than half of the bins in Stanwell Park had protection mechanisms.
They did a survey of more than 1,100 people. 172 people from 51 suburbs said they protect their bins against birds.
Humans have a challenge in securing the bins in a way that allows them to be emptied by automated garbage trucks.
The use of a heavy object to weigh down a lid was the most basic deterrent to cockatoos. Dr Richard Major is a senior fellow at the Australian Museum and one of the study's co- authors. It is a lot of fun to watch a bird push a brick off a building.
cockies got too clever and bricks seemed to work for a while.
The solution was to wedge a pair of shoes near the bin lid. Major said that when the bin truck lifts it up and turns it over the lid is heavy enough to fit a sand shoe. It was too much for a bird to carry.
You can sign up for the Morning Mail.
The national and international stories of the day are broken down in the morning email.
Zip ties were used to attach water bottles to the bin lid. Some people put rubber snakes on their bin lids.
The paper looked at the spatial variation in bin- opening solutions. Some people used the same techniques as their neighbours.
The researchers think the bin standoff is an innovation arms race that involves learning behavioural change in two populations.
The cockatoos have adapted well to living with humans because of their large brain size. Major said that humans are adapting brilliantly to live with parrots.
One of the few non-human species that can dance is the sulphur-crested cockatoo. In Australia, they are known for their screeching.
Major said that they are a wonderful bird but also annoying.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
