Bringing back 'murderbirds': a recipe for reintroduction. A talk by Shoshana Rapley

Bush stone-curlews have declined in the southern half of their range and are now endangered in NSW, critically endangered in Victoria, and had been extinct in the ACT since the 1970s until their reintroduction at Mulligans Flat. Building on the success of the ACT reintroduction, we expanded the project to two new sites in Victoria. But studying these birds is made challenging by their cryptic and nocturnal nature. Shoshana, from the ANU, will talk about how GPS technology, tiny handsewn backpacks, and a conservation detection dog come together to uncover the secret lives of reintroduced bush stone-curlews.

Biography:
Shoshana Rapley is a PhD candidate at the Fenner School of the ANU. Birds are her driving passion in life, and she channels this into conservation research across Australia. Her PhD is about the reintroduction of the bush stone-curlew, which involves understanding their behaviours to improve release tactics. She also works on waterbird tracking in the Murray Darling Basin and is an author on the annual Australia's Environment Report.

Shoshana’s talk will be held in the Slatyer Seminar Room, on the first floor of the R N Robertson Building, 46 Sullivans Creek Road at the ANU. Head up the stepped ramp on the right as you enter the building. Lifts are also available. The Slatyer room will be on your left at the front of the building. Light refreshments will be served from 7pm with the talk to start at 7.30pm. Please bring a keep cup or mug for coffee or tea. Non (and new!) members welcome!

Photo by Annette Ruzicka.