Prior to 2018, reports of sulphur-crested cockatoos accessing trash bins were limited to three suburbs in Sydney; however, by the end of 2019, this behavior had expanded to 44 areas, demonstrating that the birds were not only spreading to surrounding neighborhoods but also developing unique methods—suggesting that they were forming a culture through social learning instead of passing down the behavior genetically.

The sulphur-crested cockatoo’s ability to open wheelie bins showcases remarkable problem-solving skills and social learning. Initially observed in only a few suburbs around Sydney and Wollongong, reports of this behavior surged to 44 suburbs by late 2019. Researchers, led by the Australian Museum, investigated this spread, concluding that social learning, rather than genetic inheritance, drove the behavior, revealing distinct local foraging techniques.

The process of bin opening requires coordinated actions—finding grip, lifting the lid, and balancing—indicating a complex understanding of the task. The study involved analyzing 1,396 public reports across suburbs and close observation of marked cockatoos, highlighting the development of local subcultures in their bin-opening techniques.

Interestingly, while many cockatoos can witness the behavior, only a minority successfully opened bins, with higher success rates among male birds, suggesting social dominance plays a role. The research also revealed that the cockatoos’ actions influenced human behavior, as residents devised methods to thwart the birds, resulting in a dynamic interspecies interaction.

Overall, this example illustrates how animal culture can shape behavior in urban environments, driven largely by social observation rather than just genetic factors.