Hiding in 'plain' sight: uncovering the secret life of Plains-wanderers is South Australia

Hiding in ‘plain’ sight: uncovering the secret life of Plains-wanderers in South AustraliaWhat is a Plains-wanderer and why are scientists so excited to find one? Join us on a journey into the heart of South Australia's semi-arid rangeland, where a small, elusive bird has sparked big questions about conservation, habitat, and hope.Over the past four years, PhD student Saskia Gerhardy has been studying the Plains-wanderer, a critically endangered bird unlike any other in the world. Once thought to be lost from South Australia, a surprising discovery at Boolcoomatta Station Reserve changed the way we think about this bird.This talk is a walk through the discovery of a population of Plains-wanderers and the research that followed, including efforts to track the birds using GPS backpacks, acoustic recording, DNA sampling and determining the distribution of this new population. It highlights how these methods are helping scientists understand where Plains-wanderers live, how they move through the landscape, and what they need to survive.Blending science with storytelling, the talk celebrates the community who are helping to protect this rare and remarkable species. It offers a glimpse into the life of a bird few have seen, and the collaborative efforts to ensure it remains a part of South Australian biodiversity.