These Students Are Breeding Endangered Finches. But Will It Save the Species?

A black-throated finch (Poephila cincta). (Image credit: Getty) A primary school in Australia is breeding endangered finches — but although the program is bringing awareness to the birds’ plight, it won’t save them, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . The southern subspecies of the black-throated finch, called Poephila cincta cincta , is native to north-east Australia. It is thought to be extinct in New South Wales, and only an estimated 1,000 are left in the wild in Queensland, according to the ABC. But inside the classroom, they’re thriving. Brett Murphy, a Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) teacher at the Belgian Gardens State School in Australia, created the breeding program seven years ago and, with the help of his students, has been successfully breeding the finches for the past six years. In the breeding program, the team now cares for 120 finches, which includes the black-throated finch ( Poephila cincta ) and other species, such as the Gouldian finch ( Erythrura gouldiae ). The program also breeds other types of birds, including the golden-shouldered parrot ( Psephotus chrysopterygius ), according to the ABC. Students take care of these animals daily, feeding them and making observations of their […]

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