'Crucial to survival of the species' - Blackpool Zoo's massive update on critically endangered bird's eggs

Three critically endangered birds have been successfully hatched and reared at Blackpool Zoo, marking only the second time the achievement has been recorded there.

The Blue-crowned laughingthrush chicks are considered crucial to the survival of their species, which is on the verge of extinction. It is estimated that between 50 and 249 individuals remain in the wild, while a further 313 are housed in zoos and conservation collections worldwide. In the past 12 months, just 48 chicks have been hatched globally.

The chicks' parents, Rupert and Melody, shared incubation duties throughout the 14-day period and have continued to rear the young together since they hatched on 25 April. Although small in size, Blue-crowned laughingthrushes are known for their powerful voices, and the birds' distinctive song has been attracting visitors to their aviary.

‘Most endangered on the planet’

Luke Forster, Deputy Section Head at Blackpool Zoo, is absolutely delighted to see Rupert and Melody become parents. He said: “These stunning birds are some of the most endangered on the planet and the three chicks will play a critical role in the survival of their species.

“All work carried out in zoos and collections across the world will help our colleagues working tirelessly on in-situ conservation programmes. With a total population of less than one thousand individuals they are in real danger of becoming extinct due to excessive and strongly culturally rooted consumption of wild songbirds for trade, competitions, pets, export, traditional medicine and food.

“We introduced the Blue-crowned laughingthrush, along with several other species of highly endangered songbirds, in 2019 as part of our support for the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Silent Forest campaign, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of songbirds in Asia.

“It has been wonderful to watch Rupert and Melody raise the three chicks and I am looking forward to listening to all five of them singing their hearts out all summer.”

‘Heartbreaking reality’

Laura Gardner and Colleen Lynch, Curator of Birds at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in the US are co-convenors of the Blue-crowned laughingthrush Global Species Management Plan.

The team at Blackpool Zoo worked closely with Laura to identify a suitable breeding pair and Laura was thrilled to hear the news. She said: “The heartbreaking reality for this species is that it is in real danger of becoming extinct if efforts to save them don’t work.

“The breeding programme in zoos and other collections is vital to ensure there are enough genetically suitable groups to learn from and to reintroduce into the wild. Parent reared birds are particularly important as they will learn all the correct behaviours from their upbringing, which will help them when it comes to having their own young in the future.

“Blackpool Zoo is one of our many shining examples of UK zoos that are working tirelessly to help this, and many other, endangered songbirds.”

Home to some of the most endangered birds in the world

Blackpool Zoo is home to two of the world’s most endangered birds, one being the Blue-crowned laughingthrush and other being the Bali Myna, which has just 50 individuals left in the wild.

Other songbird species that reside in Blackpool Zoo’s Asian Songbird Aviaries include highlighted species include Javan Sparrow, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Mountain Peacock-pheasant, Luzon Bleeding-heart dove, Red tailed laughing thrush, Emei Shan Liocichla, White-rumped Shama and the Black-naped Fruit-dove.