Lindsey Stirling Held A Private Concert For John Ball Zoo’s Animals

Lindsey Stirling, the violinist who made a name for herself after an America's Got Talent judge famously said she "needs to be in a group" and that "what she does will never sell out a venue in Vegas," is truly a one-of-a-kind act. Her violin skills are unmatched, and her ability to leap across genres brought her to Grand Rapids for a show at the Acrisure Amphitheater.

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But as it turns out, she didn't just come to play for people - she came to play for the animals at John Ball Zoo as well, and the audience seemed pretty receptive to her violin.

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Lindsey Stirling Entertains John Ball Zoo

Lindsey Stirling brought her Duality Untamed tour through Grand Rapids on August 21st, and before she played on the big stage, she played for a much smaller audience: a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, who was vibing and physically reacting to the music.

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In a video posted on her Facebook page, the Cockatoo can be seen bouncing its head and ruffling its yellow feathers in response to Stirling's upbeat tempo.

Then, in what is even more shocking, the bird begins screeching afterward, seemingly calling for an encore (sounding like an old electronic buzzer). Once the music starts back, the Cockatoo's chirping switches to a chirp of satisfaction.

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It turns out, this isn't just a one-off moment. In a 2025 study, researchers found that birds in captivity, especially the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, show "dance behavior in response to music," including imitation, vocal learning, and entrainment. Head bobbing, as seen in this video, and foot tapping are the two most common expressions.

a bird with a banana on its head

The Acrisure Amphitheater has been a major success in its debut season in Grand Rapids. All summer long, despite concerns about parking and sound, people have been pretty receptive to the outdoor venue.

A big part of that is thanks to the big-name acts and the variety of shows, ranging from rock to pop to rap to country and even comedy. Check out this season's full lineup below.