Electronic Egg in the Nest

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is pleased to welcome 4 newly-hatched kori bustard chicks this summer, along with new incubation information gathered from an electronic egg.

In the past, artificially incubating eggs relied as much on guesswork as on hard data. Improving the breeding rates means increased birds populations in captivity and also helps maintain their genetic diversity.

The telemetric egg contains sensors that record temperatures on the egg’s surface and interior. Motion detectors record how frequently the mother turns the egg during incubation. Data is recorded 24 hours a day and downloaded every 48 hours. Zoo staff uses the information to mimic natural incubation in the lab.

“It’s really a breakthrough. This is data we couldn’t get any other way,” said National Zoo biologist Sara Hallager. “The information we gather helps us both understand more about the biology of these birds and how to better incubate them artificially.”

Kori bustards, native to eastern and southern Africa, are the heaviest birds capable of flight, with males reaching up to 40 pounds. Wild populations are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and feathers.

—LiveScience Staff

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