Palm Cockatoo Drumming

Inhabiting the monsoonal rainforests of Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland, the Palm cockatoo is one of the few tool-using birds in the world. The male fashions a drumstick from the branch of a tree, and uses it to strike a tree-hollow to make it resonate – hoping to woo his lady love. Ecologist Steve Murphy studied these fascinating birds, tracking their breeding success, mimicking their calls and trying to fathom what makes these highly intelligent birds perform this elaborate behaviour. (Excerpt from Australian Broadcasting Corporation award-winning 2007 documentary "Australia - Land of Parrots." Produced by David Parer & Elizabeth Parer-Cook)