How Palm Cockatoos Use Sticks to Drum Out a Beat on Trees to Attract a MateProfessor Robert Heinsohn of the Australian National University explained to Isabelle Rodd of BBC News how the palm cockatoos of Australia and Papua New Guinea use sticks to drum out a rhythmic beat on a tree in order to attract a mate. They are the only birds that are known to make music this way. The palm cockatoo is thought to be the only bird species to use tools musically – drumming wood to attract a mate. Unfortunately, this musically gifted striking bird is considered endangered.