Washington (AFP)
The human being, to acquire new skills, is often inspired by more experienced models, like children who observe and reproduce the gestures of their elders, or amateur sportsmen who analyze the footwork of champions for them. imitate.
This proven method also works in cockatoos, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science, which looks at Sydney's garbage cans to document an example of "social learning" in the animal kingdom.
It all started when a scientist from the Australian Museum filmed with his phone a Sulfur-crested cockatoo opening a trash can with its beak and paw, to feast on its contents.
"It intrigued us because it was an innovation, a new way to access resources in the city," Barbara Klump, from the Max Planck Institute on Animal Behavior, told AFP. , principal author of this study.
The researchers realized that this was a rare chance to study the transmission of new know-how in the animal world.
These cousins of the parrot, known for their towering crests and high intelligence, "are found all over Australia's east coast and garbage cans are exactly the same everywhere," perfect conditions for a life-size experience, according to the researcher.
But first, you had to know if other cockatoos knew how to open these precious pantries.
In an online questionnaire, the researchers asked residents of Greater Sydney and the Wollongong region (further south) if they had ever witnessed this feat and when.
Their responses showed that in 2018 cockatoos had only been caught in the act in three neighborhoods, while by the end of 2019 the practice had been observed in 44 of them.
A more detailed analysis confirmed that the technique had first spread to the adjacent neighborhoods of the first zones, then had spread further and further, which made it possible to rule out the intervention of chance.
- "Local cultures" -
To better understand the phenomenon, the team took a closer look at the cockatoos at work and realized how difficult it is to open a trash can when you are winged.
In a given group, only 10% of these birds succeeded in opening the trash cans, the others benefiting from the efforts of these "pioneers".
The maneuver of the most talented consists of five stages: levering the lid, opening it up, blocking it, moving towards the hinge to open it wider, overturning it.
# photo1
At each step, the researchers observed variations: some cockatoos opened the lid at the level of the handle, others closer to the edges, others tipped their heads during handling ... and the differences were correlated with geography , with certain techniques very localized in certain districts.
"It showed the existence of local subcultures, as there may be local traditions," says Barbara Klump.
Such differences have already been observed in other animals, especially in monkeys or whales, whose sounds can be different depending on the region, like local dialects.
This study adds a line to the long list of proven talents of cockatoos - who can solve complex puzzles or dance to the beat to music - and illustrates their adaptability in an urban environment.
But these birds are not just well-made heads, they are also very social.
During the day, they stay in small groups, of about five, but in the evening, they form large groups of 50 to 500 birds.
For Barbara Klump, the exchange of tips is probably done in small groups.
"They take care of each other, learn from each other and pass the knowledge on to each other ... it's interesting how similar they are to us in some ways."
© 2021 AFP