Home / Environment / Lost Bird Song Rescued From Brink
Lost Bird Song Rescued From Brink
3 Mar
Summary
- Researchers restored the original song of Australia's critically endangered regent honeyeater.
- A song tutoring program improved the learning of the complex bird call.
- The goal is to increase breeding success for birds released into the wild.
Scientists have rescued the lost song of the critically endangered regent honeyeater, a songbird that once flocked across southeastern Australia but now numbers fewer than 250 in the wild. The bird's original, complex song has largely disappeared, replaced by a simpler version, potentially impacting reproductive success.
A three-year study involving zoo-bred regent honeyeaters aimed to reintroduce their full wild call. Initially, playing recorded songs to young birds was unsuccessful. The breakthrough came in the second year when researchers used two wild-born males as singing tutors.
Reducing class sizes to about six juvenile males per tutor significantly improved learning. Within three years, the proportion of juveniles learning the wild song increased from zero to 42%. The zoo population became the sole remaining source of the traditional song culture.
Released birds, including males who have learned the restored song, are being monitored to determine the program's impact on breeding success and overall fitness. The ultimate aim is for the species to become self-sustaining and for wild and captive birds to interbreed.
