Seven more Eastern Bristlebirds Join The Wild Population

10 years ago, we decided to take the lead on conserving a tiny, very special native bird: The Eastern Bristlebird. Since then, our avian conservation team and partner, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, made it their mission to save the most contracted population found on the QLD/NSW border from extinction. Today, we're proud to share that we've nearly doubled the number of birds in the wild!

But we're not done yet. Hear more from Allison Beutel, Avian Conservation Specialist.

the latest release was a success

In early September, our Bristlebird conservation team transferred seven more birds bred in specialist care to the Border Ranges National Park in northern NSW.

These birds were fitted with radio transmitters and set up in tents furnished with grasses to acclimate to their new surroundings.

After three days, once the birds showed us they were for release, the tents were opened. Our team then watched them release themselves and join their mates in the wild. As always, it's such a moving moment and great reminder of why we do what we do!

An update on the last birds released into the wild

All birds have adjusted well to their new wild habitat and our team on the ground is continuing to radio track birds that have transmitters intact.

Radio tracking the birds gives us a good picture of how far the birds are dispersing, whether they are feeding naturally or relying on supplementary food and identifying the areas they prefer to settle in.

If you’d like to help save the Eastern Bristlebird, check out our wish list! As a not-for-profit charity, we rely on our amazing amazing community to continue our conservation work. We regularly update the list with the things we need the most, like radio transmitters.

30 Birds released since last year

We're proud to share that a total of 30 birds have now been released since 2023! This means that the estimated number of wild birds is now at almost 70, which is nearly double to what's previously been recorded.

These released birds add valuable genetics and numbers to the critically endangered northern population of Eastern Bristlebird. Although our release stage is still in the early stages, we are confident the injection of these bred in specialist care birds to the wild is having a positive effect on the wild population, with nesting observed for the first time since 2019.

Nesting season is in full swing

Back at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Garima Conservation Reserve, our Bristlebird breeding pairs are in full swing with all pairs currently nesting. Check out the photo below of one of our dedicated Bristlebird mums, Olive, brooding her adorable chick!