The Secret Life of Our Urban Birds – Perth on ABC and ABC iview – Dr. Ann Jones is on her latest birding adventure, this time across Perth. Uncovering the secrets of majestic wedge-tailed eagles to sexy splendid fairy wrens, she learns why the locals are so passionate about their charismatic birds.
Right in the heart of the city is the Black Swan whose numbers bely an uncertain future. Digging into its genetics revealed an ominous discovery; bird flu could wipe out the species.
Up in the Perth Hills, the Splendid Fairy Wren has a problem of a different sort: love. The female wants both territory and eye-candy. If the male isn’t blue enough, it doesn’t stand a chance.
When it comes to their offspring, finding food is key and one pair of Wedge-Tailed Eagles has got it sussed.
On the other side of Perth, Fairy Terns have found a great pick-up joint, right on the Swan River.
But a housing crisis has hit them hard. Human disturbance is rife and camouflage from predators is everything.
Humans disturb birdlife in many ways, but habitat loss is a major contributing factor.
Deforestation is leaving one of Perth’s endemic species, the Black Cockatoo, on the brink of extinction. But to add insult to injury, their few remaining hollows are being poached by an outsider – the Rainbow Lorikeet, which was introduced to Perth in the 1960s.
The only way to keep an eye on bird dynamics is to conduct surveys – and The Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count is a vital conservation tool. Ann joins one school in Perth which has more reason to take part than any other.
Production Credits: Producer / Director: Lisa Dupenois, Associate Producer: Helena Cohen-Robertson, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmer, Head of Factual: Susie Jones.
The Secret Life of Our Urban Birds – Perth on ABC and ABC iview – Tuesday 13 August at 8:30pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
The Secret Life of Our Urban Birds – Perth on ABC and ABC iview
