Peckerwood Manor

Palm cockatoos are the rockstar drummers of the bird world! They've got a unique talent for making and using drumsticks to create percussive sounds. It's like they're hosting their own Coachella in the jungle. These birds are true artists, each crafting their own drumsticks with a distinctive design. It's like they're saying, "Move over, Dave Grohl, we've got our own music to play!" They pick up branches and seed pods, then whittle them down with their beaks to create their very own drumsticks. And get this - each bird has its own drumming pattern, making them the ultimate solo performers. These cockatoos are the only non-human species known to rock out with their own custom-made drumsticks. I was stoked to learn this because they are hands down my favorite bird. Now, if only we could teach ours to do that, then maybe we'd form a band!

Five African grey parrots named Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade, and Elsie were causing quite a "squawk" at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Center in the U.K. These feathery comedians had developed a habit of swearing at patrons, ruffling a few feathers along the way. It seems that their time in quarantine together turned into a crash course in colorful language. The parrots continued their expletive-laden performances once they moved the little thugs to the main outdoor aviaries. While some visitors found their "fowl" language side-splitting, the park decided it was best to separate the parrots for the sake of the children and to encourage them to pick up more innocent language from other African greys. Parrots are known to imitate passionate outbursts, and once they learn to swear, it's no easy task to "un-teach" them. Eventually, the parrots were returned to a public enclosure, but not without warning for visitors who might not want to hear their feathery stand-