‘Lost’ Tropical Bird Not Seen in 20 Years Caught on Camera

A long lost bird species has been captured in photographs for the first time in 20 years.

The yellow-crested helmetshrike, or Prionops alberti, is known to inhabit the Albertine Rift, which is in the eastern mountains of Democratic Republic of the Congo, however it is rarely seen or reported. This is largely due to its remote habitat, and the fact it is situated in an area of ongoing conflict.

In fact the American Bird Conservancy has reported the bird as “lost” as it had not been spotted in such a long time. However finally, it has been sighted once again.

The photographs were taken by scientists at the University of Texas at El Paso, who searched for the bird high and low for six weeks throughout the Itombwe Massif, a mountain range in the east of the Congo.

“It was a mind-blowing experience to come across these birds. We knew they might be possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would appear in life,” Michael Harvey, an ornithologist and UTEP assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, said in a press release.

This bird is distinguishable by its striking bright yellow crest. And this is what ultimately led the scientists to the lost bird.

During the expedition, co-led by Harvey and Professor of Biological Sciences Eli Greenbaum, the team searched for 75 miles through the mountains for the birds, analyzing the different bird species and other animals in the remote area.

After a thorough search, the scientists finally spotted the unmistakable yellow crest.

And they found not one, but 18 of these birds across different areas of the mountain range. The birds appeared as “noisy and active groups” in the forest, according to a statement.

Although the Albertine Rift has been an area subject to war and conflict, it has become safer to visit more recently, which is why the researchers were able to visit. However there are still threats to the species within the forest.

“This inspires hope that perhaps the species still has a reasonably healthy population in the remote forests of the region,” Harvey added in a statement. “But mining and logging as well as the clearing of forests for agriculture are making inroads deep into the forests of the Itombwe range. We are in discussions with other researchers and conservation organizations to further efforts to protect the region’s forests and the helmetshrike.”

Now that these birds have been rediscovered, researchers are eager to initiate conservation efforts to help protect the species.

“Right now is a golden opportunity to protect these tropical forests, so that we don’t lose species like the helmetshrike before they are known and studied.”

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