BirdLife Australia in the media: September 2024

Find out more about our bird conservation work around the country with our monthly multimedia round-up.

Release of zoo-bred birds boosts Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater numbers (The National Tribune)

49 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters have been released into the wild on Wonnarua country in NSW’s Hunter Valley, in a bid to boost the wild population of this Critically Endangered species.

In the centre of the frame, two hands hold a black and gold Regent Honeyeater. The person is wearing a purple watch and a silver and orange ring on their fingers, and a dark green fleece jumper, but their face is out of view. — *A zoo-bred Regent Honeyeater prior to release. Photo by Alex Pike*

Good eggs: fans delighted as new peregrine falcon chicks hatch on Melbourne skyscraper (The Guardian)

After a nervous wait, all three Peregrine Falcon chicks have now hatched atop a skyscraper on Melbourne’s Collins Street. Started seven years ago by the Victorian Peregrine Project (VPP), an initiative of BirdLife Australia’s Raptor Group, the hugely popular 24-hour live stream of their nest is back online for another year – much to the delight of their many adoring fans.

To the right of the frame, an adult Peregrine Falcon is perched in a nest box on the ledge of a skyscraper, behind two small white downy chicks. The nest looks down over the Melbourne CBD. — *All three eggs have now hatched. Screenshot via 367 Collins St Falcons Live Stream*

Australia’s magpie swooping season is here – but they aren’t the only birds to watch out for (The Guardian)

It’s swooping season – but Australian Magpies aren’t the only species known to swoop to protect their eggs and young. BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley explains why birds like Masked Lapwings, Noisy Miners and butcherbirds swoop, and what you can do to help keep safe this swooping season.

In the centre of the frame, a black and white Australian Magpie flights directly towards the camera with wings outstretched in the swooping position. — *Australian Magpies are infamous for their swooping behaviour, but they’re not our only swoopers! Photo by Jeff Groves*

Concerns for Black Swan populations around Australia, if a new strain of avian influenza reaches our shores (ABC News)

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed millions of birds around the world in recent years, with outbreaks on every continent except Australia. As a national taskforce continues to help us monitor and prepare for the arrival of this deadly strain on Australia’s shores, a study has found Black Swans are particularly susceptible to avian influenza.

In the middle of the frame, a Black Swan flies low over the water's surface. The sky, clouds and swan are reflected in the water. — *Unlike other swan and waterbird species, Black Swans are particularly susceptible to bird flu. Photo by Jason Abuso*

Birds in the media:

‘Breakthrough discovery’: Indigenous Rangers in outback WA find up to 50 night parrots – one of Australia’s most elusive birds (The Conversation)
*The top five birdwatching destinations in Australia (The Australian)
Amazing moment zoo sets free 49 of Australia’s rarest birds (Yahoo News)
Vomiting muttonbirds, swooping magpies, plovers faking injuries among birds’ defences when nesting (ABC New England)

*Behind paywall

To stay up-to-date with our bird conservation work around the country, subscribe to our monthly BirdLife Bulletin.

Sign up to stay up to date
- Author
  
  BirdLife Australia
- Local or special interest group
  
  Birdlife Australia
Share

BirdLife Australia in the media: September