The extraordinary vanishing act of the Javan Pied Starling
27 March 2021 Press-release by IUCN-SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group A new study published in Ardea – the scientific journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists’ Union – highlights the unprecedented decline of the critically endangered Javan Pied Starling Gracupica jalla. Dr. Bas van Balen, the lead author of the study, explains that “Fifty to hundred […]
Wangi-Wangi Island Trip Report
The Wangi-Wangi White-eye was discovered in 2003 and although widely recognized as a separate species it is still in the process of being scientifically described. For several years there have been concerns about the bird’s conservation status and the Silent Forest pre-selected project partner Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark (PCBA) have been precautionary breeding the pale […]
Bangkaru Island of Natural Treasures
Text by Thomas Amey, Director of Social and Environmental Programmes, EcosystemImpact Foundation Home to some of the world’s rarest bird and turtle species, Bangkaru Island remains… wild and remote, off the Northwest coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. An Island of natural treasures! EcosystemImpact and wildlife agency BKSDA have a team of rangers that patrol this Island […]
A need for international protection of the Sumatran Laughingthrush
A the new publication by Sarah Heinrich et al. “A case for better international protection of the Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)” is fresh off the press. This completed as a cooperation between researchers from Monitor Conservation Research Society, Chester zoo, Marlow Bird Park and the University of Adelaide. The paper argues for a need of […]
Indonesian songbird competitions are going online due to COVID
Like much of the live bird trade now also the songbird competitions in Indoensia are moving to a online venue due to the corona-virus pandemic. Check out the video from TRAFFIC here.
Cikananga Conservation Breeding Centre wins ASAP support grant
Great news from Cikananga Conservation Breeding Centre (CCBC). With the support of ASAP the coming breeding season for the Javan Green Magpie and Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush can come. CCBC applied to ASAP’s Rapid Action Fund to continue the breeding programmes of the three birds. ASAP has teamed up with the Oriental Bird Club to provide the […]
News from the Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark
Check out the news from the Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark in eastern Java. One of the pre-selected projects of the Silent Forest Campaign and a continued partner of many zoos and the Silent Forest Group
Best Practice Guidelines for ex-situ management of the Straw-headed Bulbul published
Text by Simon Bruslund After month of writing up the collected experience by EEP coordinator Manoj Kumar the manuscript has been under review by the EAZA Songbird TAG for additional months. Now it has finally been published and it is worth taking a closer look. The Straw-headed Bulbul is a challenging species to breed in […]
The impact of CITES-listing on the Chinese Hwamei
Text by Dr. Chris R. Shepherd, Monitor Conservation Research Society Executive Director Researchers from the Monitor Conservation Research Society and the Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group have evaluated the trade in the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus) and the effects which the long-term CITES appendix II listing have had on the species conservation. The Chinese Hwamei […]
Barusan Shama: At the precipice of extinction
Text and images by Pratibha Baveja, PhD Candidate at National University of Singapore, Singapore Recently, a research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) in collaboration with Syiah Kuala University and Aceh Birder conducted an expedition to investigate the avifauna on the ornithologically lesser explored islands of West Sumatra (see map below). One of the […]