Latest News
Future looks brighter for the endangered Regent Honeyeater
12-Jun-08
Regent Honeyeaters were once seen in flocks of thousands throughout south-eastern Australia, but are now in danger of extinction. But a captive breeding program is giving renewed hope for their long-term survival
Three Australian bird species face extinction
26-May-08
Climate change and bush fires are given as major causes for the Mallee Emu-wren being listed as 'endangered' by the IUCN in their 2008 account of endangered birds. Two other Australian species have also had their status upgraded.
DDT in Adelie Penguins in Antarctica - due to melting ice
15-May-08
DDT is a highly toxic chemical and was banned decades ago, but low levels have recently been recorded in Adelie Penguins living in Antarctica, which indicates recent exposure.
Birds may have their own compass - in their eyes?
07-May-08
Birds use the earth's magnetic field to navigate, but how do they do it? New research has discovered a molecular mechanism found in the eyes of migrating birds, that may explain how.
Migratory Shorebirds plummet in numbers
17-Apr-08
Migratory Shorebirds are under threat with the key cause being the loss of staging sites where birds refuel along their epic journeys to breed in the far northern hemisphere
Climate change brings mixed news to Australia's birds
04-Mar-08
Some bird species will benefit while others will be disadvantaged, according to the State of Australia's Birds Report, recently published by Birds Australia. Read more...
Declining wetland birds
30-Oct-07
Most of Australia's prime waterbird habitat is dry; 'Where there were once thousands of waterbirds there are now only a few', Dr Richard Kingsford, UNSW, reports.
Bar-tailed Godwit E7 returns after a marathon flight
17-Sep-07
A female Bar-tailed Godwit fitted with a satellite transmitter at Miranda, Firth of Thames in New Zealand on 6 February 2007 returned to the place of tagging on the evening of Friday 7 September after a logged flight of 29,181 km - about 500 hours of flying.
Life's a delicacy for ibis on the fly
13-Aug-07
Sydney's white ibis travel widely to dine with friends, picnicking together one day near the coast and sampling the delicacies of a western suburbs tip the next, a scientific study of their movements has revealed.
New Guidelines for Bird Habitat
23-Jul-07
Guidelines Project completed! The Birds in Backyards "Best Practice Guidelines for Enhancing Bird Habitat" are now ready for you to download.
ABC News in Science:Bowerbirds lose their mojo, but not for long
31-May-07
Bowerbirds that lose one aspect of their mojo compensate by making themselves sexually desirable in other ways.
Urban birds adapt their songs
02-May-07
Songbirds living in European cities change their songs so they can hear each other despite the background noise of the city, new research shows.
Global warming could wipe out 72% of birds.
16-Nov-06
Conservation group WWF says unchecked climate change could result in 72 per cent of bird species becoming extinct unless we control climate change.
Toolkit to conserve Shorebirds in Australia
21-Sep-06
Twenty percent of migratory shorebirds that spend summer in the Australasian region are at risk of extinction. This Shorebird Conservation Toolkit will help to protect and enhance shorebird habitat across Australia.
Welcome to a surprising and first time visitor to Australia!
12-Sep-06
Grey Headed Lapwings are usually found in Northern China, but in June of this year one visited NSW and stayed for some weeks at Burren Junction. Why was it here and how did it get here?
Orange Bellied Parrot Recovery funds boosted
29-Aug-06
The Federal Government has pledged $3.2 million dollars to ensure the future of the endangered Orange Bellied Parrot.
BBC News: Brazil to take penguins back home
03-Aug-06
Penguins stranded on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro will hitch a ride back home to Antarctica with Brazil's air force and navy.
ABC News in Science: Scientists catch the early bird
22-Jun-06
100-million-year-old fossils found in China, complete with bones, feathers and foot webbing, suggest living birds evolved from waterfowl.
ABC News in Science: Swans like a bit on the side
13-Jun-06
DNA testing has shown that one in six cygnets is the product of an illicit encounter.
Yahoo Science News: Amid extinctions, parrots, panthers get costly aid
17-May-06
Australia's Orange-bellied Parrot and the Florida Panther are in an exclusive but growing club of rare species getting costly protection.