Research from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna highlights that Goffin's cockatoos at the Goffin Lab moisten their rusk before eating, expending considerable time and energy on this unique food texture modification. Alice Auersperg, the head of the Goffin Lab and one of the study authors, expressed admiration for their effort in altering food texture.
Goffin's Cockatoos' Surprising Behavior Revealed in a 12-Day Experiment
Goffin's cockatoos have displayed remarkable skills in various studies, showcasing their ability to open locks, forage through trash bins, and even craft tools from cardboard to obtain hard-to-reach food. Typically, researchers observed these avian talents without disrupting their lunchtime routine.
A surprising turn occurred when a researcher accidentally witnessed a cockatoo named Pipin dipping its food (rusk) into a water tub typically reserved for bathing and drinking. Subsequently, two other cockatoos, Kiwi and Muki, were observed exhibiting the same behavior, which was also found documented in various YouTube videos.
This behavior was unexpected since rusk is easily consumed by cockatoos and most birds without additional modifications. Intrigued by this unique conduct, researchers conducted a 12-day experiment involving 18 Goffin's cockatoos.
The study, titled "Dunking rusk: innovative food soaking behavior in Goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana)" published in The Royal Society Publishing, revealed that seven of them actively engaged in dunking specific food types-rusk, dried banana chips, and dried coconut chips-while ignoring others like apple pieces, dried berries, seeds, or pellets.
The findings suggest that the birds had learned which food items benefited from soaking. Interestingly, some cockatoos displayed patience, waiting for up to 30 seconds before retrieving and consuming their dunked rusk, allowing for a softer texture.
Jeroen Zewald, a study author and doctoral student at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, emphasized the impressive impulse control demonstrated by these birds.
Motives Behind the Dunking Behavior of Goffin's Cockatoos
Out of the five possible motives of why these birds soak their food-cleaning, flavor enhancement, prey drowning, liquid transport, or texture improvement- only the fifth reason is observed in Goffin's Cockatoos' surprising behavior. Due to this, researchers propose that cockatoos likely favor the texture of soggy rusks over the dry ones.
Engaging in the practice of dipping food in water is not exclusive to cockatoos; various species, like raccoons, adopt this behavior to enhance texture perception rather than for cleaning purposes. Informally noted in over 25 wild bird species, including grackles, dunking appears to be an adaptable behavior, with biologist Simon Reader emphasizing its dependence on specific circumstances, costs, and benefits at the time.
This study highlights the uniqueness of parrots, particularly cockatoos, showcasing their novel dunking behavior. Despite the prevalence of such behavior in other species, this is the first documented instance in parrots, emphasizing the adaptability of these behaviors in response to environmental factors.
The origin of the dunking technique, whether independently devised by Kiwi and Muki or acquired by observing Pipin, remains uncertain. Additionally, it raises the question of whether this behavior is widespread among Goffin's cockatoos or unique to those in captivity.
Considering that wild Goffin's cockatoos do not consume rusk and lack access to water tubs in their natural habitat, the inquiry arises as to whether they could learn and exhibit this behavior.
RELATED ARTICLE: Wild Cockatoos Seen Using Utensils From Trees Like Primates, Opens Possibilities in Evolution of Intelligence
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