Sad reality behind photo of cockatoos raiding Christmas rubbish bins
Though the mess left is annoying for some, it shows the lasting implications of human development.
An image of a group of cockatoos rummaging through Christmas leftovers has more to it than meets the eye, as experts share that human development and captivity have led to this smart species becoming a "pest" in some urban areas.
Sulphur-crested cockatoos are an Aussie icon known for their loud screeching and cheeky behaviour. They're also known for the damage they can cause when trolling through people's garbage in search of food or maintaining their tough beaks on branches and the timber panelling or decking of people's homes.
But, while the mess they can cause is bothersome for some — especially on Christmas Day — WIRES rescuer and bird expert Inga Schwaiger told Yahoo News Australia they're just smart birds trying to adapt to the changes in their landscape. "Development is a major issue," she said. "They're losing trees and the tree hollows which take a long time to form in them. Cockatoos nest in tree hollows."
As well as this, the popularity of the Sulphur-crested cockatoo as pets has "increased its range", according to the Australian Museum. They can either escape or are purposefully released in areas where they do not already occur and can become a "pest" in those places — such as in Western Australia, where this species is a Declared Pest under section 22 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
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Full Christmas bins a feast for Cockatoos driven to urban living
Cockatoos are known to find their way into rubbish bins in search of food, particularly when bins are full and close to overflowing after Christmas. In fact, there are endless photos and videos online of the strong birds, usually in pairs or small groups, using their beaks to push bricks off the lids of bins to get inside.
Inga recommends using string and 2-litre bottles filled with water instead of heavy bricks or rocks to keep cockatoos from getting into your bin and creating a mess. She explains that you use the string to hang the bottles from the bin handles, so the birds can't push them off.
"They could end up chewing through the rope though," she said, highlighting that these intellectual animals are almost impossible to keep away from food sources — this resourcefulness needed after the clearing of native forests has driven cockatoos to urban areas after losing their homes and food sources elsewhere.
Fast facts about Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are a type of parrot.
They are found across North and East of mainland Australia, Tasmania, the Aru Island and New Guinea. A small population has started around Perth, Western Australia and they have also been introduced in New Zealand and Indonesia.
Their normal diet consists of berries, seeds, nuts and roots — as well as human handouts.
They are a popular pet around the world and are so smart they can be taught to talk.
Their beaks grow continuously which is why they need to chew on objects to keep them trimmed.
Feeding usually happens in small to large groups, with one or more members of the group keeping watch for danger from a nearby spot.
These large parrots can live up to 80 years in captivity.
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