在阿富汗发现大嘴苇莺繁殖地

在阿富汗发现大嘴苇莺繁殖地

大嘴苇莺是一种资料不详的鸟类，最近发现在阿富汗的华汗走廊一代的山地繁殖。那是阿富汗与中国接壤的地点，说不定在新疆西部也有它的繁殖地呢。

'World's least known bird' found breeding in Afghanistan

15-01-2010

The breeding site of one of the world's least known birds, Large-billed Reed-warbler Acrocephalus orinus, has been discovered in the remote and rugged Wakhan Corridor of the Pamir Mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan.

Using a combination of field observations, museum specimens, DNA sequencing, and the first known audio recording of the species, researchers verified the discovery by capturing and releasing almost 20 birds earlier this year, the largest number ever recorded.

The discovery of Large-billed Reed-warblers in Afghanistan represents a watershed moment in the study of this bird. The first specimen was discovered in India in 1867, with more than a century elapsing before a second discovery of a single bird in Thailand in 2006 which was first reported by BirdLife International.

A preliminary paper on the finding appears in the most recent edition of BirdingASIA, the magazine of the Oriental Bird Club.

"Almost nothing was known about this species and it was consequently listed as Data deficient by BirdLife on the IUCN Red List, so the discovery of a breeding population marks a major step forward", said Dr Stuart Butchart, BirdLife’s Global Research and Indicators Coordinator.

"This is great news from of a little-known species from a remote part of the world and suggests that there may be more discoveries to be made here" —Mike Evans, BirdLife International

The find serves as a case study in detective work. The story began in 2008, when Rob Timmins from WCS was conducting a survey of bird communities along the Wakhan and Pamir Rivers. He immediately heard a distinctive song coming from a small, olive-brown bird with a long bill. Timmins taped the bird's song. He later heard and observed more birds of the same species.

Initially, Timmins assumed these birds to be Blyth's Reed-warblers Acrocephalus dumetorum, but a visit to the Natural History Museum at Tring in the UK to examine bird skins resulted in a surprise: the observed birds were another species.

In summer 2009, WCS researchers returned to the site of Timmins' first survey, this time with mist nets used to catch birds for examination. The research team broadcast the recording of the song, a technique used to bring curious birds of the same species into view for observation and examination. The recording brought in Large-billed Reed-warblers from all directions, allowing the team to catch almost 20 of them for examination and to collect feathers for DNA. Later lab work comparing museum specimens with measurements, field images, and DNA confirmed the exciting finding: the first-known breeding population of Large-billed Reed-warblers.

"This is great news from a little-known species from a remote part of the world and suggests that there may be more discoveries to be made here", said Mike Evans, BirdLife's compiler of the Important Bird Areas of the Middle East.