When Javan Green Magpies feel blue
Authors: Simon Bruslund (Heidelberg Zoo, Germany) and Andrew Owen (Chester Zoo, UK) Did you know that Green Magpies fade from vivid green to a turquoise blue when they don’t receive the correct diet? It has long been known that the plumage of Green Magpies of the genus Cissa fade in colour when they are kept […]
Understanding The Songbird Crisis
Author: Julia Migné (Chester Zoo, UK) We caught up with one of our Conservation Scholars and PhD student from Manchester Metropolitan University, Harry Marshall, to learn more about his research on the songbird crisis and the drivers affecting it. South East Asian songbirds are currently facing a major extinction crisis evidently driven by the huge […]
At Heidelberg Zoo, the forest does not stay silent
Author: Simon Bruslund (Heidelberg Zoo, Germany) When visiting Heidelberg zoo, you will find three permanent Silent Forest exhibitions: at the entrance, in the middle of the zoo and in the peasantry’s aviary. In addition, a mobile manned display table is active as often as possible and showcases the Songbird Crisis with dedicated flyers and several […]
Planning for Songbirds, a deep dive into zoo conservationists’ work
Author: Simon Bruslund (Heidelberg Zoo, Germany) May was the month of meetings for EAZA bird people: first the Threatened Asian Songbird Alliance (TASA) met to discuss current songbird project developments; then the Joint Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) Chair meetings took place for an update on global wildlife population management; finally, the Birds TAG’s meetings happened […]
Racing for Mynas
As you may know, the critically endangered Nias Hill myna (Gracula robusta) is one of the six Silent Forest Campaign flagship species and the project “Save Magiao: Nias Hill Myna Conservation Breeding Center” is entirely dedicated to its conservation. To raise some money and help achieve the financial goals of this project, Dennis Appels and […]
Help us collect binoculars!
Author: Barbara Tesarova (Zoo Liberec, Czech Republic) Liberec Zoo is collecting old, but still functional, binoculars! When you visit us, don’t forget to bring yours or the ones given by your colleagues, schoolmates, friends… Leave them at the check-in desk at the entrance. They will be kept at the Silent Forest campaign office before being distributed to […]
FREE AS A BIRD – Bird watching trips for Indonesian urban families
Author: Frantisek Pribrsky (Ostrava zoo, Czech Republic) Indonesia has one of the highest number of bird species listed as threatened. Nevertheless, thousands of these endangered species are still being sold on local markets. Every fifth Indonesian household keeps caged birds as pet… Due to socioeconomic reasons, there is lack of outdoor culture and families rarely […]
Will you hear us?
Remember Tainted love, the great documentary by University student Eleanor Paish? A year has passed already… The film has collected awards on festivals, subtitles have been translated to several languages and it´s being screened in several institutions over the world including Indonesia. We are grateful the Silent Forest Campaign continues to inspire creativity. Will you […]
International Songbird Day 2018: Celebrating songbirds across Europe
Authors: Julia Migné (Chester Zoo, UK) and Lucia Schröder (Cologne Zoo, Germany) As you might know, consumption of wild-caught South-east Asian Songbirds for trade, as pets, singing competitions, status symbols, religious ceremonies, traditional medicine and food are pushing many species to the brink of extinction. Zoos across Europe have joined forces to help tackle this […]
When Art students and Lisbon Zoo join forces to help Songbirds
Author: Maria Antonieta Costa (Lisbon Zoo, Portugal) Lisbon ZOO challenged a class of 12th graders from the Secondary Art School António Arroio in Lisbon – finalist students of the Communication Design Course – during their Training in Work Context to imagine ways to raise awareness of the Songbird crisis. The challenge was to present a […]