Extinct in the wild birds head to new home ahead of first wild release
Guam sihek arrive on Pacific island as part of project to re-establish a wild population for the first time
Written by Zoological Society of London. Shared with permission.
Image provided by THOMAS MANGLOÑA II / KUAM NEWS
Nine extinct in the wild sihek – also known as Guam kingfishers – have made a historic flight to their new island home in the Pacific Ocean, ahead of their planned release into the wild in just a few weeks, where they will become the first sihek in the wild since the 1980s.
With the bird species currently only found under human care, the arrival of this precious cargo to The Nature Conservancy’s preserve and research station at Palmyra Atoll earlier this week (28 August 2024) brings the Sihek Recovery Program – a project bringing together world-leading conservation experts from across the globe – one step closer to their ultimate goal of establishing a wild population of these rare sapphire and cinnamon feathered birds.
Sihek, as the birds are known by the indigenous CHamoru people, once flourished on the North Pacific island of Guam. However, the accidental introduction of the brown tree snake to the island in the 1940s decimated sihek and other native bird populations. First listed under the Guam Endangered Species Act in 1982, the sihek was subsequently added to the US Endangered Species List in 1984, and was officially recognised as being extinct in the wild following the last wild sighting in 1988.
Through an emergency rescue operation of 28 sihek in the 1980s – carried out by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and Guam Department of Agriculture (DOAG) – a small number of sihek were rescued into human care. 127 adults are now kept safe in 25 institutions across the AZA and DOAg. The nine birds moving to Palmyra Atoll will be the first to be released to the wild after 36 years.
Scott Newland, President and CEO of Sedgwick County Zoo and the AZA species coordinator for sihek, added: “This milestone is great proof of what we can achieve with a shared commitment, tenacity and creativity. AZA zoos have dedicated resources and expertise to maintain the sihek population for the last 40 years. Without the efforts of AZA and the hundreds of animal care specialists whose dedication to sihek has been steadfast, this upcoming release would have not been possible.”
Yolonda Topasna, DOAG Division of Aquatic and Wildlife (DAWR) Program Coordinator states, “As our beloved sihek – Guam’s kingfisher- journey to Palmyra Atoll, I feel their resilience reflecting our own. But their true home is Guam, just as it is ours. We must bring them back to Guam, for their return is vital to restoring our island’s balance and thriving together.”
The four female and five male sihek will spend the next few weeks in aviaries within their new forest home at The Nature Conservancy’s preserve and research station, giving them time to acclimatise while the team make the final preparations for their release. Tiny trackers will be fitted to the birds to enable the team to monitor their activity as they settle into their new habitat.
Once the team is confident that the birds are ready for their new life in the wild, they will be released, making them the first wild population of sihek in almost 40 years.
The Sihek Recovery Programme is working to establish a wild population of the bird at Palmyra Atoll because it is predator-free and fully protected. Palmyra Atoll is a US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge and is further protected—out to 50 nautical miles—by the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, the largest swath of ocean and islands protected under a single jurisdiction in the world. The Nature Conservancy maintains a preserve and research station with the refuge. The atoll will provide the sihek a safe, wild home to thrive in and establish a breeding population, with the ultimate goal of one day returning the species to Guam once the threat from snakes is controlled.
Travelling 7,300km from Wichita, Kansas, to Palmyra Atoll, the birds were accompanied on their 14-hour journey by a wildlife vet from Sedgwick County Zoo and a bird husbandry specialist from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute – both of whom will be caring for the birds during these final stages – along with representatives from the Guam government.
These releases will be repeated annually until 20 sihek have successfully established themselves as breeding pairs to one day raise the first wild-born sihek since the 1980s.
The nine birds were all hatched and hand-reared for this release, having been bred as part of a 24-zoo collaborative breeding programme operating across the US. The sihek were raised in a purpose built biosecurity facility at Sedgwick County Zoo, receiving expert care from specialist bird keepers from seven participating AZA zoos as well as from ZSL’s London and Whipsnade Zoo in the UK – all of whom worked around the clock to feed, weigh and monitor the chicks as they grew from hatchlings weighing no more than a pencil to fully-grown birds ready for their next big step.
Dr Caitlin Andrews, one of the conservation scientists behind the move and joint-researcher at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and ZSL’s Institute of Zoology said: “The arrival of the birds to the Palmyra Atoll is an incredible day that the whole partnership has been working toward for years. We’re all feeling so excited and proud. Returning species to the wild is a long, complex process that requires careful planning and creative solutions. We wouldn’t be here without conservation zoos and the essential role they play in saving species on the brink of extinction, or the decades of restoration work by TNC and its partners allowing Palmyra Atoll to serve as a safe haven for sihek and other wildlife.
“We still have some years to go until sihek establish a self-sustaining population, but this is an amazing milestone, and other success stories show us that it is possible. We are hopeful that the Palmyra population will flourish and serve as a stepping stone for sihek on their journey home to Guam someday.”
Megan Laut, US Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Program Manager, added: “We have been working with our partners on this effort for years, and we are excited to see this first step toward recovering sihek in the wild. We are growing the worldwide population of sihek while also learning about their behavior in the wild for the first time in over 30 years. What we learn from the birds on Palmyra will only improve the chances of success once it is safe to release birds on Guam.”
Written in Collaboration with:
Sihek Recovery Program:
The Sihek Recovery Program is a global collaborative of conservationists dedicated to recovering one of Guam’s most iconic native species, the sihek (Guam kingfisher, Todiramphus cinnamominus). The Sihek Recovery Program is made up of partners from the following organizations: US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Guam DAWR, ZSL, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sedgwick County Zoo, AZA, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Conservation zoos collaborating to reverse extinction
In 2023, scientists released a study in the journal Science – the world’s leading outlet for cutting edge science – showing that conservation zoos have the powerful potential to reverse species extinction. The paper outlines how immense collaborative efforts by zoos and botanical institutions – working alongside governments and partners responsible for wild habitats – have combined to prevent extinction and allow some species to successfully reclaim their wild habitats
Guam Department of Agriculture (DOAg)
The Guam Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources is dedicated to the conservation, protection and management of Guam’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. In 2018, DOAg invited the IUCN to assist them in planning releases of captive bred sihek.
ZSL
Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow. Visit www.zsl.org for more information.
Working with partners, ZSL have formed an Extinct in the Wild Alliance (EWA) to drive forward species recovery of the worlds most threatened species, and to secure the future for these species and restore them responsibly back into safe wild habitat. We are drawing a line in the sand to halt human induced species extinction. Find out more: Extinct in the Wild | The Zoological Society of London (zsl.org)
National Aviary
Located on Pittsburgh’s historic Northside since its founding in 1952, the one and only National Aviary is home to 500 birds representing more than 150 diverse species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. The National Aviary’s large walk-through habitats create an intimate, up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and to meet many species rarely found in zoos. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. For tickets and more information visit aviary.org.
The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Palmyra
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. TNC purchased Palmyra Atoll in 2000 to preserve it, and turned over the majority of the property to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. As part of our Island Resilience Strategy, TNC maintains a globally significant preserve and research station at Palmyra Atoll. TNC has forged partnerships to manage 14 preserves and support other sites in Hawai‘i and Palmyra Atoll, working with government, private parties and communities to protect Hawai‘i’s and Palmyra’s forests and coral reefs for their ecological value and for the many benefits they provide to people. Visit nature.org/HawaiiPalmyra.
Sedgwick County Zoo
The Sedgwick County Zoo is dedicated to inspiring respect and conservation for wildlife and wild places. Home to nearly 3,000 animals of more than 400 different species, Sedgwick County Zoo has been recognized with national and international awards for its support of field conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. Opened in 1971, it has been ranked among the best zoos in the country and is the No. 1 outdoor family tourist attraction in the State of Kansas. The Sedgwick County Zoo is a not-for-profit organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) leads the Smithsonian’s global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to some of the world’s most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo’s 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features 2,200 animals representing 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute’s 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on 264 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for conservation of wild populations. NZCBI’s more than 300 staff and scientists work in Washington, D.C., Virginia and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 30 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to inspiring visitors to care about wildlife and wild places. It was voted the #1 Best Zoo and the #1 Best Botanical Garden in USA TODAY reader polls and has also received rave reviews from Child Magazine, Parents Magazine, Newsweek, and TripAdvisor. Over 1.8 million people visit the Zoo’s award-winning habitats, 400 animal and 3000 plant species annually. The Zoo, an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for more than 30 years, is internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants and engages in research and conservation projects worldwide. Known as the #GreenestZooInAmerica, the Zoo is doing its part to conserve natural resources that are critical to saving wildlife and its habitats and is committed to greening its daily operations and reducing its impact on the environment with rain gardens, recycled building materials, solar panels and more. The Cincinnati Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Tracy Aviary
As the largest and oldest free-standing aviaries in the nation, Tracy Aviary inspires curiosity and caring for birds and nature through education and conservation. Visitors can enjoy interactive bird shows, educational demonstrations, and over a dozen nature play opportunities while exploring 8 acres of themed exhibits and botanical gardens. An oasis in the heart of Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park, Tracy Aviary is home to over 300 birds, representing about 125 species from around the world, including several endangered species. Tracy Aviary has grown and evolved over our more than 80-year history to become a cultural landmark, public garden, and leader in environmental education and conservation.