Latest news with #NatashaLubke
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Science
- News.com.au
Cockatoos can bust a move: Australian research
Cockatoo birds are renowned in Australia for their raucous singing, but researchers said Thursday they also boast an impressive array of dance moves. Many Australians regard cockatoos as something of a nuisance, a reputation owed in part to the parrots' cacophonous, screeching cries. But when they are not using their sharp beaks to rifle through rubbish, a new study found many cockatoo species seemed to enjoy shaking their tail feathers. Charles Sturt University researcher Natasha Lubke documented 30 different dance moves while studying various species of cockatoo -- from headbanging to body rolls. "I showed that dancing behaviour is more common in cockatoos than previously thought, and was seen in 10 of the 21 cockatoo species," said Lubke. Lubke scrolled through YouTube videos to document the dancing behaviours of pet cockatoos around the world, as well as observing the birds at Australia's Wagga Wagga Zoo. The research suggested that cockatoos "can experience pleasure and enjoy dancing", she said. Animal behaviour expert Raf Freire, who supervised the research, said it was a sign of "well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". The study was published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. Once dubbed "Australia's naughtiest bird", the sometimes irksome behaviour of sulphur-crested cockatoos is a source of constant fascination to scientists. Researchers earlier this year documented how a flock of cockatoos in urban Sydney had figured out how to use drinking fountains. The Australian government in 2017 spent US$50,000 (Aus$80,000) repairing damage to high-speed internet cables stripped and chewed by cockatoos.
France 24
4 days ago
- Science
- France 24
Cockatoos can bust a move: Australian research
Many Australians regard cockatoos as something of a nuisance, a reputation owed in part to the parrots' cacophonous, screeching cries. But when they are not using their sharp beaks to rifle through rubbish, a new study found many cockatoo species seemed to enjoy shaking their tail feathers. Charles Sturt University researcher Natasha Lubke documented 30 different dance moves while studying various species of cockatoo -- from headbanging to body rolls. "I showed that dancing behaviour is more common in cockatoos than previously thought, and was seen in 10 of the 21 cockatoo species," said Lubke. Lubke scrolled through YouTube videos to document the dancing behaviours of pet cockatoos around the world, as well as observing the birds at Australia's Wagga Wagga Zoo. The research suggested that cockatoos "can experience pleasure and enjoy dancing", she said. Animal behaviour expert Raf Freire, who supervised the research, said it was a sign of "well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". The study was published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. Once dubbed "Australia's naughtiest bird", the sometimes irksome behaviour of sulphur-crested cockatoos is a source of constant fascination to scientists. Researchers earlier this year documented how a flock of cockatoos in urban Sydney had figured out how to use drinking fountains. The Australian government in 2017 spent US$50,000 (Aus$80,000) repairing damage to high-speed internet cables stripped and chewed by cockatoos.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Cockatoos can bust a move: Australian research
Cockatoo birds are renowned in Australia for their raucous singing, but researchers said Thursday they also boast an impressive array of dance moves. Many Australians regard cockatoos as something of a nuisance, a reputation owed in part to the parrots' cacophonous, screeching cries. But when they are not using their sharp beaks to rifle through rubbish, a new study found many cockatoo species seemed to enjoy shaking their tail feathers. Charles Sturt University researcher Natasha Lubke documented 30 different dance moves while studying various species of cockatoo -- from headbanging to body rolls. "I showed that dancing behaviour is more common in cockatoos than previously thought, and was seen in 10 of the 21 cockatoo species," said Lubke. Lubke scrolled through YouTube videos to document the dancing behaviours of pet cockatoos around the world, as well as observing the birds at Australia's Wagga Wagga Zoo. The research suggested that cockatoos "can experience pleasure and enjoy dancing", she said. Animal behaviour expert Raf Freire, who supervised the research, said it was a sign of "well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". The study was published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. Once dubbed "Australia's naughtiest bird", the sometimes irksome behaviour of sulphur-crested cockatoos is a source of constant fascination to scientists. Researchers earlier this year documented how a flock of cockatoos in urban Sydney had figured out how to use drinking fountains. The Australian government in 2017 spent US$50,000 (Aus$80,000) repairing damage to high-speed internet cables stripped and chewed by cockatoos. sft/djw
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Science
- The Advertiser
Cockatoo-step: researchers identify the dance moves of iconic Aussie bird
The iconic cockatoo could put most Aussies to shame on the dancefloor with a new study finding they have at least 30 moves in their repertoire. But beyond the moves, including headbanging, sidesteps and body rolls, the Charles Sturt University researchers found some captive birds performed their own individual dance moves, often by combining several moves in unique ways. Parrots have been observed dancing to music in captivity anecdotally, but in analysing social media videos of cockatoos dancing, researchers identified 17 new moves. The researchers found that the top 10 most common dance moves differed between species; even those closely related did not display similar dances. The study then focused on cockatoos housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo, where they were played music, a podcast and no audio, and regardless of whether music was being played or not, all the birds performed dance moves. Researcher Natasha Lubke said her analysis was "far more complex and varied than previously thought" and an excellent model to study parrot emotions. "The work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare," Ms Lubke said. Only humans and parrots have been reported to spontaneously dance in time to music, with dancing being a result of complex brain processes. The paper said many of the cockatoos' dance moves were similar to courtship displays of wild parrots, which suggests that their dancing abilities may have originated from this behaviour and been redirected towards their owners. Professor Rafael Freire said similarities with human dancing made it "hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". He said playing music to parrots may improve their welfare. "Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment." Do the birds actually enjoy dancing? More research is required to find that out too. The iconic cockatoo could put most Aussies to shame on the dancefloor with a new study finding they have at least 30 moves in their repertoire. But beyond the moves, including headbanging, sidesteps and body rolls, the Charles Sturt University researchers found some captive birds performed their own individual dance moves, often by combining several moves in unique ways. Parrots have been observed dancing to music in captivity anecdotally, but in analysing social media videos of cockatoos dancing, researchers identified 17 new moves. The researchers found that the top 10 most common dance moves differed between species; even those closely related did not display similar dances. The study then focused on cockatoos housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo, where they were played music, a podcast and no audio, and regardless of whether music was being played or not, all the birds performed dance moves. Researcher Natasha Lubke said her analysis was "far more complex and varied than previously thought" and an excellent model to study parrot emotions. "The work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare," Ms Lubke said. Only humans and parrots have been reported to spontaneously dance in time to music, with dancing being a result of complex brain processes. The paper said many of the cockatoos' dance moves were similar to courtship displays of wild parrots, which suggests that their dancing abilities may have originated from this behaviour and been redirected towards their owners. Professor Rafael Freire said similarities with human dancing made it "hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". He said playing music to parrots may improve their welfare. "Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment." Do the birds actually enjoy dancing? More research is required to find that out too. The iconic cockatoo could put most Aussies to shame on the dancefloor with a new study finding they have at least 30 moves in their repertoire. But beyond the moves, including headbanging, sidesteps and body rolls, the Charles Sturt University researchers found some captive birds performed their own individual dance moves, often by combining several moves in unique ways. Parrots have been observed dancing to music in captivity anecdotally, but in analysing social media videos of cockatoos dancing, researchers identified 17 new moves. The researchers found that the top 10 most common dance moves differed between species; even those closely related did not display similar dances. The study then focused on cockatoos housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo, where they were played music, a podcast and no audio, and regardless of whether music was being played or not, all the birds performed dance moves. Researcher Natasha Lubke said her analysis was "far more complex and varied than previously thought" and an excellent model to study parrot emotions. "The work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare," Ms Lubke said. Only humans and parrots have been reported to spontaneously dance in time to music, with dancing being a result of complex brain processes. The paper said many of the cockatoos' dance moves were similar to courtship displays of wild parrots, which suggests that their dancing abilities may have originated from this behaviour and been redirected towards their owners. Professor Rafael Freire said similarities with human dancing made it "hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". He said playing music to parrots may improve their welfare. "Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment." Do the birds actually enjoy dancing? More research is required to find that out too. The iconic cockatoo could put most Aussies to shame on the dancefloor with a new study finding they have at least 30 moves in their repertoire. But beyond the moves, including headbanging, sidesteps and body rolls, the Charles Sturt University researchers found some captive birds performed their own individual dance moves, often by combining several moves in unique ways. Parrots have been observed dancing to music in captivity anecdotally, but in analysing social media videos of cockatoos dancing, researchers identified 17 new moves. The researchers found that the top 10 most common dance moves differed between species; even those closely related did not display similar dances. The study then focused on cockatoos housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo, where they were played music, a podcast and no audio, and regardless of whether music was being played or not, all the birds performed dance moves. Researcher Natasha Lubke said her analysis was "far more complex and varied than previously thought" and an excellent model to study parrot emotions. "The work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare," Ms Lubke said. Only humans and parrots have been reported to spontaneously dance in time to music, with dancing being a result of complex brain processes. The paper said many of the cockatoos' dance moves were similar to courtship displays of wild parrots, which suggests that their dancing abilities may have originated from this behaviour and been redirected towards their owners. Professor Rafael Freire said similarities with human dancing made it "hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots". He said playing music to parrots may improve their welfare. "Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment." Do the birds actually enjoy dancing? More research is required to find that out too.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Cockatoos that feel the beat perform 30 distinct dance moves, study shows
Cockatoos can headbang, body roll and sidestep intentionally to music, according to a new study by Charles Sturt University. Researchers have analysed 45 social media videos of cockatoos dancing and identified 30 distinct movements, 17 of which had never been documented before. In the study, published today in the journal PLOS One, researchers found some cockatoos had their own signature moves, unique to each individual, while other species appeared to favour different styles. Natasha Lubke's research shows that dancing behaviour is more common in cockatoos than previously thought. Photo: Supplied: CSU Media To further investigate the behaviour of the cockatoos, the research team went beyond the screen and into the field to Wagga Wagga Zoo in New South Wales. There, they studied six cockatoos, including two Major Mitchells, two sulphur-crested cockatoos and two galahs. Over a 20-minute period, each bird experienced either silence, music or a podcast. Lead researcher Natasha Lubke chose the playlist, opting for Avicii's The Nights for the music and She's on the Money for the podcast. "It's a great podcast. We're just educating the birds on their finances," Ms Lubke joked. One particularly enthusiastic Major Mitchell cockatoo made a total of 257 moves in sequence while listening to a 20-minute loop of The Nights. In both parts of the study - the online video analysis and the zoo observation - dancing was observed in 10 of the 21 known cockatoo species in the Cacatuidae family of the parrot species. Natasha Lubke hopes music can be used to enrich the lives of captive cockatoos. Photo: Supplied: CSU Media Many of the dance moves were similar to courtship displays, indicating their dancing may have originated as courtship behaviour that has been redirected towards their owners. One of the cockatoos performed more than 250 dance moves. Photo: Supplied: Irena Schulz Spontaneous dancing in time to music had only been officially recorded in humans until Snowball, the sulphur-crested cockatoo, went viral for dancing to the Backstreet Boys more than a decade ago. In 2019, in a Current Biology study, professor of psychology at Tufts University, Aniruddh Patel, and his colleagues explored Snowball's ability to dance spontaneously, challenging the long-held belief that sophisticated movement to music was uniquely human. The study showed that Snowball developed 16 distinct moves without any formal training to dance. But it was not known if other cockatoos would develop other moves, or if a parrot's dance moves were largely determined by its genetic makeup as a member of a particular species. "By studying dancing to music in numerous parrots across several species, the new study found 17 new moves, and also showed that relatedness between species did not predict how similar the dance moves of different parrots were," Professor Patel said. "These findings are exciting because they demonstrate that flexible and creative dancing to music is not uniquely human." While it may seem like an amusing curiosity, for scientists it raises many questions. "Why is this behaviour seen in parrots but not in our closest living relatives - chimpanzees and bonobos - when raised by humans?" Professor Patel said. "After all, ape brains are much closer to ours in size and overall structure than parrot brains are, and genetically parrots are more closely related to extinct dinosaurs than to humans." Scientists are developing neuroscientific theories to explain the mystery of why dancing to music emerges without any special training in some human-raised parrots but not in human-raised apes. It's still unclear what motivates cockatoos to dance. Ms Lubke has a theory. "I don't believe that they dance based on imitation," she said. "That rules out the theory they're just dancing because people are dancing. I think they're definitely dancing, and it appears to be a form of play behaviour - they're doing it because they're in a positive welfare state." Researchers hope the discovery could lead to new ways to enrich the lives of captive birds - particularly intelligent parrots who may suffer in environments lacking stimulation. "The similarities with human dancing make it hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots," said co-author Rafael Freire, an expert in animal behaviour. "Playing music to parrots may improve their welfare," Professor Freire said. "Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment." - ABC
