Nexus

“All things are bound together. All things connect.”

• Chief Seattle (1786–1866), Suquamish and Duwamish Indian leader

Recent news item about certain birds:

Learn more here.

As endangered birds lose their songs, they can't find mates

Something most of us, unless we are ornithologists or birders, rarely consider. Just as young humans learn from older ones, young birds learn from their elders. Or not.

Birds which become endangered due to limited numbers may not have proper role models. This includes the songs they learn. There may be insufficient adults to teach them.

The regent honeyeater bird of Australia, a small bird with distinctive yellow, black and white markings, is among those affected. Already afflicted with small numbers due to loss of habitat since the 1950s, their decline may be accelerated by being unable to mate in proper numbers to keep their species viable. They may be in danger of extinction; there may be only 300–400 left.

Scientists have found the songs male regent honeyeaters sing may be unlike what they traditionally sing. Songs are garbled, perhaps learned from a different bird species, and not what female honeyeaters are used to hearing. Something is putting them off. It appears to be the songs.