Album made up of tweets and squawks from endangered BIRDS debuts in Australia’s top charts

Rockin’ Robin! Album made up entirely of tweets and squawks from endangered BIRDS debuts in Australia’s top charts – surpassing Mariah Carey and Michael Buble

  • The album, called Songs of Disappearance, was created by BirdLife Australia
  • It features the birdsongs of 53 of Australia’s most threatened bird species
  • The album is currently at number five in the Australia Aria chart, placing it ahead of Michael Buble’s Christmas, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour and even ABBA’s Voyage


From Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You to Michael Buble’s It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, several festive classics have re-joined the top charts in the build up to Christmas.

But an unexpected album has soared ahead of its rivals in Australia, and it’s made up entirely of the tweets and squawaks of endangered birds.

The album, called Songs of Disappearance, was created by BirdLife Australia, and features the birdsongs of 53 of Australia’s most threatened bird species.

Amazingly, the album is currently at number five in the Australia Aria chart, placing it ahead of Michael Buble’s Christmas, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour and even ABBA’s Voyage.

The album, called Songs of Disappearance, was created by BirdLife Australia, and features the birdsongs of 53 of Australia’s most threatened bird species

Amazingly, the album is currently at number five in the Australia Aria chart, placing it ahead of Michael Buble's Christmas, Olivia Rodrigo's Sour and even ABBA's Voyage

Amazingly, the album is currently at number five in the Australia Aria chart, placing it ahead of Michael Buble’s Christmas, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour and even ABBA’s Voyage

New Red List species 

On Amber List in 2015 but now on Red List:  

  • Swift
  • House Martin 
  • Dunlin
  • Bewick’s swan 
  • Smew
  • Goldeneye 
  • Montagu’s Harrier 
  • Purple Sandpiper  
  • Leach’s Storm Petrel 

On Green List in 2015 but now on Red List

Writing on its website, BirdLife Australia said: ‘We did it! 

‘Thanks to your incredible support we reached #5 in the ARIA charts, ahead of ABBA, Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé.’

The album features birdsong from various endangered species, which were recorded by wildlife recordist David Stewart.

‘On this album of pure birdsong you can hear 53 of our most threatened species,’ BirdLife Australia said.

‘The title track celebrates the incredible diversity of the Australian soundscape, and highlights what we stand to lose without taking action.

‘Be immersed in a chorus of iconic cockatoos, the buzzing of bowerbirds, a bizarre symphony of seabirds, and the haunting call of one of the last remaining night parrots.’

Proceeds from the sale of the album will go towards BirdLife Australia’s threatened species campaigns. 

Speaking to The Music Network, Paul Sullivan, BirdLife Australia CEO, said: ‘This album is a very special record with some rare recordings of birds that may not survive if we don’t come together to protect them.

‘While this campaign is fun, there’s a serious side to what we’re doing, and it’s been heartening to see bird enthusiasts showing governments and businesses that Australians care about these important birds.’

You can purchase the album from the BirdLife Australia website here.  

According to the IUCN Red List, 13 per cent of birds around the world are currently threatened with extinction.

In fact, more than one in four bird species in the UK is in need of urgent conservation action, a recent report from the RSPB warns. 

The album features birdsong from various endangered species including the gang-gang cockatoo (pictured), which were recorded by wildlife recordist David Stewart

The album features birdsong from various endangered species including the gang-gang cockatoo (pictured), which were recorded by wildlife recordist David Stewart

The charity has revealed its latest assessment of the status of all the UK’s 245 regularly-occurring bird species.

In all, 70 species, or 29 per cent of the total, are now of ‘highest conservation concern’ and have been placed on the assessment’s Red List. 

Bird species now in the Red List – including the Swift, House Martin and Greenfinch – are of the ‘highest conservation priority’ and in need of ‘urgent action’, mostly due to severe population declines, RSPB says.  

BIRDS USE SONG TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER BIRDS

Birds use their voices to communicate with other birds.

Sharp tunes are an efficient way to communicate over long distance, especially when you are small and live in dense habitats like rain forests.

Most bird species use specific calls to identify themselves and to communicate a nearby threat.

Birdsong is a specialised type of call used by many species to help them mate.

Almost exclusively a male activity, birdsong helps the singer to indicate he is fit, healthy and ready to breed.