A team of researchers from the University of Queensland and Charles Darwin University have found that fires along waterways in Australia's tropical savanna are a significant threat to endangered bird species.

The researchers studied the effects of fires on bird populations in the savanna regions of northern Australia. They found that fires along waterways, which are important habitats for many bird species, were particularly damaging. These fires destroyed nesting sites and food sources, and caused many birds to flee the area.

The researchers also found that the effects of fires on bird populations were long-lasting. Even after a fire had been extinguished, it took several years for bird populations to recover.

The researchers say that their findings highlight the importance of protecting waterways from fire in the tropical savanna. They recommend that fire management strategies be developed to minimize the risk of fires along waterways, and that these strategies be implemented as a matter of urgency.

The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.