[PCA] ARTICLE: Bird numbers plunge as deforestation changes mating songs

[Park, Margaret E]

*Valerie Yurk, E&E News, March 17, 2021



*Summary: Bird declines due to deforestation also change how survivors sing, according to research<https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.0225> published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Birds learn to sing by associating with older members of their species, so birds decline as juveniles fail to learn songs that will attract mates. The study found that where adult birds are rare, the endangered regent honeyeater is singing simplified or incorrect songs. Twenty-seven percent of wild males studied sang songs that differed from the regional norm. Twelve percent of young males found in areas where honeyeaters are rarer sang "totally incorrect" songs, according to the study. "It seriously impacts their ability to communicate," Australian National University researcher and lead author Ross Crates said. "Females will avoid males that sing unusual songs."

*Link to article: https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/03/17/stories/1063727717?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire

*Link to original article: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.0225
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