Just as humans learn languages, animals learn behaviours crucial for survival from older individuals of the same species. In this way, important ‘cultures’ such as bird songs are passed from one generation to the next.
But global biodiversity loss means that many animal populations are becoming small and sparsely distributed. This jeopardises the ability of young animals to learn important behaviours.
Nowhere is this more true than in the case of the regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), a critically endangered, nectar-feeding songbird endemic to south-eastern Australia. A recent paper by Australian National University (ANU) scientists describes how a population crash to fewer than 300 has caused the species’ song culture to break down.
In healthy populations, the song of adult male honeyeaters is complex and long. But where the population is very small, the song is diminished and, in many cases, the birds have adopted the songs of other species. Sadly, this makes the males less attractive to females, which may increase the chance of the regent honeyeater becoming extinct.
Regent honeyeaters once flew in huge flocks between Adelaide and Queensland’s central coast, tracking eucalyptus blossoms. As recently as the 1950s, the species was a common sight in suburban Melbourne and Sydney, but it is now extremely rare in these cities.
Extensive post-war land clearing has destroyed regent honeyeater habitat and caused the population to plummet. Most breeding activity is now restricted to the Blue Mountains and Northern Tablelands in New South Wales.
This story is from the April 16, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the April 16, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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