HOW MATCH MAKING LOOKS LIKE FOR BIRDS
An update from Allison Beutel, Avian Conservation Supervisor at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Love is in the air! Or should we say, on the ground?
As part of our conservation program to save the endangered Eastern Bristlebird, a small ground-dwelling bird, our conservation team has been very busy 'match making'. Keep reading to find out what that means and to get a full update on our conservation work.
Through NSW Saving Our Species funding, we have been able to build some new breeding and holding habitats. We now have an additional bird-holding facility at Garima Conservation Reserve, which will be used this season to hold offspring planned for release to the wild. Construction has also started on another breeding habitat, which when completed will allow additional breeding pairs to be set up. These new facilities are vital to ensure we have the space to grow our breeding collection, which will supply further birds for release to the wild.
Our conservation keepers have also been busy ‘match making’ over the last month and introduced our latest breeders to the program to increase genetics and ensure a healthy breeding population continues.
Birds have started off the season strongly, after the recent rains, which always stimulates the birds. Most pairs showing signs of nesting, and our first eggs for the season were laid mid-July. Can you spot the nest?
Overall, July signaled the beginning of our busy period where birds are breeding, undergoing health checks, and planning commences for our upcoming release scheduled for September. Our conservation keepers are kept on their toes from here on!
If you would like to find out more about the work we do to protect this species, click below.