With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Iron Curtain kept out alien birds

The Iron Curtain that divided Europe for 46 years left an indelible imprint on the continent's wildlife.

The isolation of Eastern Europe meant that far fewer alien bird species colonised it, scientists have found.

Restrictions on the movement of people and trade into Eastern bloc countries prevented the birds entering.

While westerners imported exotic birds such as parrots and weavers, people in Eastern Europe introduced just a few game birds that were good for hunting.

The discovery is published in the journal Biological Conservation.
Read entire article at BBC