Photo: sv-takeiteasy.com
Photo: Aleks Terauds
Concrete and mud-brick nests for 'vulnerable' bird
Naaman Zhou, writing in The Guardian, says the endangered Tasmanian Shy Albatross has embraced the idea of settling down in an artificial, specially constructed nest, according to scientists that are trying to boost its population. A trial of nests was announced this past June to help the breeding success of the endangered species, which biologists believe are vulnerable to the environmental effects of climate change. Hopefully, the installation of high-quality nests will help more chicks to reach adulthood. 120 nests are currently in use. An estimated 15,000 pairs of albatrosses breed on only three remote Tasmanian islands. Nest can weigh up to 12 kg and can be 45cm wide and 30 cm high. The birds population plunged to only 600 birds in the 1800s as they were killed for feathers. By 2004 they were back to 25% of their pre-exploitation numbers.
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BarrytheBirder
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