NHK's popular nature program "Darwin Has Come!" (General) will be broadcasting "Explosive Growth Due to 'Cutting Corners'! Chasing Africa's Bird Storm" from 7:30 pm on November 23rd. The program follows African blackbirds, whose numbers are so high that they create a "bird storm" rather than a sandstorm. What emerges is a "lazy" and "cutting corners" breeding method. The program delves into the unconventional way of life of birds that overturns common sense.
The Japanese bush warbler is said to be the most numerous wild bird in the world. Its estimated population is over 1.5 billion birds, and when their flocks fill the sky, it resembles a "bird storm" rather than a sandstorm. But how can they increase in number so much?
By closely following their breeding in their native southern Africa, the team discovered that speed is key when it comes to choosing a mate and building a nest. They also discovered the surprising fact that the parent birds don't incubate their eggs during the day, and instead send their chicks to fledge while they're still immature. However, this is actually the secret to their explosive population growth.
