First known photos of a ‘lost bird’ taken by scientists

For the first time, scientists have taken photos of a bird thought to be long lost. Known as the Yellow-crested Shrike, or Prionops alberti, the species is listed as a “lost bird” by the American Bird Conservancy because it has not been seen in nearly two decades.

Scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso made the discovery during a six-week expedition to the Itombwe Massif, a mountain range in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The photos of the shrikes were reviewed and confirmed by Cameron Rutt, Ph.D., who directs the Lost Birds Project at the American Bird Conservancy.

“It was a breathtaking experience to encounter these birds. We knew they might be possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would appear in life,” said Michael Harvey, Ph.D. ., ornithologist. and UTEP Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Harvey co-led the expedition with UTEP biological sciences professor Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D. They were joined by ornithologist Matt Brady, as well as a group of Congolese researchers from the Natural Sciences Research Center , including Chifundera Kusamba, Ph.D., Robert Kizungu Byamana, Chance Bahati Muhigirwa, Mwenebatu M. Aristotle and Wandege M. .Muninga.

The team trekked more than 120 kilometers into the depths of the Itombwe Range, studying birds, amphibians and reptiles along the way.

While exploring the cloud forests on the slopes of a mountain, Harvey and Brady came across the shrike, a striking black bird with a bright yellow “helmet”. The team said they appeared as “rather noisy and active groups in the middle of the forest.”

The bird is endemic to the western slope of Central Africa’s Albertine Rift, according to Harvey, a region that has been largely inaccessible due to war and security concerns but has recently become safer to visit.

In total, around 18 birds were found at three sites during the expedition.

“This provides hope that the species may still have a reasonably healthy population in the isolated forests of the region,” Harvey said. “But mining and logging, as well as forest clearing for agricultural purposes, are making deep inroads into the forests of the Itombwe Range. We are in discussions with other researchers and conservation organizations to continue efforts to protect the region’s forests and the shrike.”

Harvey added: “Right now is a golden opportunity to protect these rainforests so that we don’t lose species like the helmeted shrike before they are known and studied.”

The expedition, which took place from December 2023 to January 2024, yielded other important discoveries. The herpetology team rediscovered the red-bellied squeaker frog, or Arthroleptis hematogaster, which had not been observed since the 1950s. The rediscovery of the frog was confirmed by David Blackburn, Ph.D., professor at University of Florida Museum of Natural History.

“UTEP’s global impact is highlighted not only by the accomplishments of its graduates, but also by groundbreaking and exciting discoveries, exemplified here by the contributions of Drs. Greenbaum and Harvey,” said Dean of University UTEP College of Science, Robert Kirken, Ph.D. “I hope this discovery enlightens and inspires students and scientists around the world.”