Monitor Songbird Lab
The illegal and unsustainable trade in songbirds is a growing threat to an increasing number of species worldwide. Some species are traded for food, but the vast majority are traded for their song, plumage and perceived rarity.
Previous studies of the songbird trade have focused primarily on Southeast Asia and neighbouring regions. As a result, our knowledge of the trade in areas such as India, South America, North America, Africa and Europe remains limited. This lack of research and data has made it difficult to develop targeted recommendations for conservation and effective regulation of the trade.
Copenhagen Zoo is now actively working to change this through the Monitor Songbird Lab.
How the project started
We know that the illegal and unregulated trade in songbirds can have serious consequences for biodiversity and bird populations – both locally and globally. At the same time, unregulated trade poses significant animal welfare concerns. When species are moved to new areas, they can also affect existing ecosystems and contribute to the spread of zoonotic diseases.
A better understanding of the songbird trade is therefore essential. Improved knowledge can help authorities and decision-makers identify the conservation and health risks associated with the trade and provide a stronger basis for action.
This is why Copenhagen Zoo, together with the EAZA Silent Forest Group, has established the Monitor Songbird Lab – an initiative designed to strengthen collaboration on evidence-based research into the songbird trade and its impact on biodiversity. The Monitor Songbird Lab is led by Simon Bruslund from Copenhagen Zoo, with Boyd Leupen from GuArdean and Chris Shepherd from the Center of Biological Diversity as members of the core coordination group.
What we are working on right now
The Monitor Songbird Lab has already resulted in a number of scientific publications produced in collaboration with various NGOs and universities.
The project has also contributed to the development of a comprehensive dataset on the global songbird trade, in collaboration with the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance and the University of Southern Denmark.
As part of this work, SiTDB (Songbirds in Trade Database) has been launched – the world’s first global open-source database on the songbird trade. The database is one of the Monitor Songbird Lab’s key ongoing projects.
This scientific output provides an important foundation for evidence-based advocacy and communication aimed at improving the legal and practical protection of songbirds.
Read more about SiTDB here: https://www.sitdb.org/.
The future of the project
The goal remains to document, understand and share knowledge about the illegal and unsustainable trade in songbirds worldwide.
In addition, the Monitor Songbird Lab will continue to advocate for stronger legislation and enforcement to help curb the illegal trade, for example by developing recommendations that support concrete conservation efforts.
More about the songbirds
At Copenhagen Zoo, you can meet the white-rumped shama, Bali myna and Sumatran laughingthrush. Would you like to learn more about these remarkable songbirds? Find out more here:
Our other projects
At Copenhagen Zoo, we are actively involved in conservation projects around the world. Which project would you like to explore next?
