It’s a battle of wits down in Australia between sulfur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and humans who own garbage bins. Scientists discovered last year that as some birds were opening the lids of garbage cans to access scraps of food inside, their comrades were watching and learning the tricks of the trade. A paper published Monday (September 12) in Current Biology has reported that even as humans try to add obstacles to the birds’ such as weighing the lid down or covering the lip so there isn’t a way to pry it open, the birds are finding new ways to solve the problem.
Science Snapshot: Fine Feathered Foes
Australians are resorting to increasingly drastic measures to keep cockatoos out of their garbage bins.
Written byLisa Winter
Lisa Winter became social media editor for The Scientist in 2017. In addition to her duties on social media platforms, she also pens obituaries for the website. She graduated from Arizona State University, where she studied genetics, cell, and developmental biology.
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Meet the Author
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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