Xinhua
14 Jan 2022, 07:14 GMT+10
CANBERRA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- An iconic Australian bird species is facing extinction within 20 years without urgent conservation action, scientists have warned.
In a study published recently, researchers from Australian National University (ANU) found that current intensive conservation efforts for the regent honeyeater are not sufficient to save the species.
A songbird endemic to south-eastern Australia, the regent honeyeater was once one of the continent's most prevalent species but the population has dwindled to fewer than 300 as a result of habitat loss.
"The regent honeyeater population has been decimated by the loss of over 90 percent of their preferred woodland habitats," Rob Heinsohn, lead author of the study from ANU, said in a media release on Thursday.
"Less than 80 years ago, it was one of the most commonly encountered species, ranging from Adelaide to Rockhampton. Now it is on track to follow the dodo into extinction."
Heinsohn's team undertook six years' of intensive fieldwork to better understand the dramatic honeyeater population decline.
Despite the bird's nomadic nature making the work difficult, the team discovered that the honeyeater's breeding success rate has declined due to predation at the nest.
The team used their findings to build population models to predict what will happen to wild populations, identifying three key conservation priorities to save the species -- doubling the nest success, increasing the number of zoo-bred birds released into the wild, and protecting habitat.
"Without more habitat, reintroductions and nest protection efforts will be futile, because the flock sizes will never reach the critical mass needed for the birds to breed safely without our protection," Heinsohn said.
"Our study provides both hope and a dire warning, we can save these birds, but it will take a lot of effort and resources over a long time to pull it off."
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Elon Musk's success has been built on government subsidies. Without...
EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not...
]LONDON, U.K.: A World Health Organization (WHO) expert group investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic released its final...
DOVER, Delaware: California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken legal aim at Fox News, accusing the network of deliberately distorting...
FRANKFURT, Germany: Germany has become the latest country to challenge Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over its data practices, as pressure...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - , Australian Federal Police (AFP) have shut down a secret drug lab in Sydney's west and seized more than 100kg...
Washington DC [US], July 2 (ANI): The Quad members unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, the Joint Statement from the...
Millions of people in New South Wales hunkered down last night as an intense bomb cyclone swept in. Falling trees took out power lines,...
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes England will focus on playing cautiously against...
Birmingham [UK], July 1 (ANI): As Team India gears up for the second Test in Birmingham against England, there would be worries about...
Washington DC [US], July 1 (ANI): Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday highlighted the Quad's significance, stating that...