Birth in captivity has lasting impact for native birds

Photo: Ashley Herrod Starting life in captivity can change the wing shape of birds, hindering their chances of surviving migratory flights when they are released into the wild, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has shown. Study author Dr Dejan Stojanovic said while captive breeding is an important conservation tool, it can lead to various physical changes in animals , including their wing shape. One of the bird species examined was the critically-endangered orange-bellied parrot. Orange-bellied parrots are subject to one of the largest, longest running breeding programs of any Australian species. To prevent extinction, their wild population is supplemented via annual releases of juveniles from captivity. "Previously we've shown that captivity can change the shape of orange-bellied parrot wings, which we suspected might make their migration flights more difficult," Dr Stojanovic said. "But this new study reveals the first direct evidence that altered wing shapes in captivity lower migration success after release to the wild.