New research has revealed the superb lyrebird to be a resourceful farmer, creating micro-habitats to host and fatten its prey before returning later to feast.
Scientists from La Trobe University observed the ground-dwelling birds working to create habitats suitable for their diet of worms, centipedes and spiders.
In a paper published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, the researchers found that lyrebirds arranged litter and soil on the forest floor in ways that promote more prey.
They fenced lyrebirds out from small areas throughout the forest to create lyrebird-free environments. In some of these areas, the researchers raked the leaf litter and soil to simulate lyrebird foraging. Where raking had been undertaken, there were more types and larger invertebrates than in the areas without simulated lyrebird foraging.
Lyrebird’s secret farming skills uncovered in Australian forests
They framed this as farming but that implies intent more than instinct. However, termites that farm fungus are still called farmers. The terminology is rather loose then.
It is still a fascinating example of the complexity of ecosystems.
Lyrebird legends abound, but not all the stories are true. Let’s sort fact from fiction
Lots of BS around Lyrebirds.
Earthworms are the common example here that descends from Darwin. They are non native Euro ones that are invasive and destructive in glaciated systems.