Wild Lives: Episode 4
In this episode of Wild Lives we meet Snitch, the Eastern Bristlebird!
Find out why he’s so special and how he’s helping save his species from the brink of extinction.
Who is Snitch?
Snitch is an adorable Eastern Bristlebird, who was collected from the Border Ranges National Park, in New South Wales to help start the Eastern Bristlebird breed for release program.
He moved to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary when the breed for release program moved here in June 2014.
What are his superpowers?
Snitch will be turning 20 years old later this month! He is the oldest living bristlebird on record - a testament to the love and care his keepers provide.
What’s the natural history of Eastern Bristlebirds?
The Eastern Bristlebird is a small, ground dwelling bird that predominantly inhabits dense, grassy areas of open forests and heathlands of eastern Australia. They are generally insectivorous and forage mainly on the ground, but also include seeds and small fruits, in its diet. The species historically occurred along the coast and adjacent ranges from south-eastern Queensland to eastern Victoria, but is now restricted to just four, geographically disjunct regions.
The northern population is the smallest of the naturally occurring populations, with approximately 40 wild individuals remaining, and meets IUCN criteria for critically endangered. The imminent threat of extinction prompted the National Eastern Bristlebird Recovery Team to convene a Northern Working Group in 1998. Charged with overseeing recovery actions for the northern population, this group is now supporting the translocation of birds bred at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, into the wild to reinforce wild numbers and improve genetic integrity.
Read up more on the outcome of our latest release here.
Snitch is a very special Eastern Bristlebird. Why?
This little brown bird has been instrumental in the Eastern Bristlebird Conservation program since he hatched in 2004.
Since he's been in our care, he's been paired with 3 different females and produced 28 offspring! He's an amazing caregiver, always looking out for his girls.
He is now one of our mentor birds and takes care of our young female offspring, helping them to become confident, in preparation for pairing with other males.
What’s your favourite thing about Snitch?
Snitch loves to feed his mates! In almost every photo we have of him, he has a beak full of insects.
He's also one of the best mentor birds and takes his job very seriously. Always looking out for the others, helping them build their confidence and preparing young females for other males when the time comes.
Why should people care about Eastern Bristlebirds like Snitch?
Saving the Eastern Bristlebird not only continues to save the diversity of Australian birdlife for future generations, but also contributes to saving the unique landscapes and habitat that they occur in. Bristlebirds occur in grass and heathlands and protecting these habitats has a massive flow on effect to the many other birds, mammals, reptiles and insects that rely on these ecosystems to survive.
Anything else you’d like to share about him?
Snitch is Mr Personality! Bristlebirds are a quite shy and cryptic species. Over the years he has developed a trust for his carers, and we are lucky enough to see his unique personality and showmanship on display when he is wooing his females. He brings joy to anyone fortunate enough to work with him.
Learn more about the Eastern Bristlebird Conservation program and what we do to help protect this endangered species.