Extinct-In-The-Wild Bird Species Is Breeding On A New Island Home

The Guam kingfisher was extinct in the wild for almost 40 years but this species was recently released into the wild where it is now breeding.

In the face of growing despair and gloom, the Guam Kingfisher, better known as the Sihek, Todiramphus cinnamominus, is the source of yet more good news: eggs! These beautiful birds, extinct in the wild for 40 years, were recently rewilded on Palmyra Atoll (read more here, here, and here). Although captive-bred Sihek were not on their native home of Guam, this release is nevertheless a critically important step closer to their eventual return home.

“Many of us spent this Easter weekend out searching high and low for eggs of a different variety – and while they might not be as shiny or brightly coloured, these tiny, unassuming-looking eggs are far more exciting and precious than any of their chocolate counterparts,” said conservation biologist John Ewen, a professor at the Institute of Zoology, which is the research division of the Zoological Society of London, and Sihek Recovery Team Chair. Professor Ewen’s research focuses on small population recovery, often involving conservation translocation, and the science that supports these decisions.

“They are a remarkable milestone for the decades-long mission to rescue the Sihek from the edge of extinction, and this moment for celebration is a real testament to all the dedicated work from everyone working around the clock to protect and recover this incredible bird.”

A total of nine chicks — four female and five male Sihek — were hand-reared at the Sedgwick County Zoo and prepared for this historic rewilding effort, which occurred when the birds were released on Palmyra Atoll at the end of September 2024.

“We’re delighted that all nine of the birds are not only surviving on Palmyra Atoll, they’re already starting the next stage of their journey as we work to reestablish a thriving and fully self-sustaining Sihek population in the wild,” said bird conservation scientist, Caitlin Andrews, with The Nature Conservancy and an Honorary Research Associate with the Zoological Society of London. Dr Andrews’ specialty is developing translocation programs for species recovery.

The breeding pairs of Sihek are very young – less than a year old – so this is the first time they’re incubating and caring for eggs, thus it may take a few egg laying attempts for the birds to develop their skills and successfully hatch chicks.

“It’s taken years of planning to get to this point, and it’s wonderful seeing their instincts kick in as they’ve been catching geckos and spiders and excavating nests,” Dr Andrews added. “Their strength provides hope they will one day be back on Guam.”

“After many long days last year looking after these birds when they were just tiny eggs and chicks, it’s so rewarding to see them beginning their journey towards raising their own chicks in the forests of Palmyra Atoll,” said London Zoo birdkeeper Charlotte James, who travelled to Sedgwick County Zoo to hand-rear the birds prior to their release. “It’s hard not to feel like a proud parent seeing them out there thriving and making history – and an honour to be part of the ongoing mission to bring Sihek back from the brink of extinction.”

Nonetheless, these eggs demonstrate both the tremendous resilience of these remarkable birds and the power of conservation to create a second chance for species on the brink of extinction.

This monumental rewilding event was the result of a global collaborative effort by the Sihek Recovery Program. Partners that either contributed eggs, chicks or staff to assist with their care to this effort include the Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the National Aviary, and Sedgwick County Zoo where they received expert care at a purpose-built facility until they were mature enough to make the journey to the atoll.

Egg selection and transfer were coordinated by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), whose staff also helped manage the care of the birds, along with Tracy Aviary, and ZSL’s London and Whipsnade Zoos.

The young Sihek were temporarily housed in outdoor aviaries on the Cooper Island preserve and research station, where they acclimated to the local environment and wildlife. The Cooper Island preserve and research station are owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, which purchased Palmyra Atoll to be an ecosystem reserve and scientific field station in 2000. (Full disclosure: I contributed to this effort.)

“This work on Palmyra is something I couldn’t have imagined witnessing in my lifetime, let alone being a part of, said Aimee Owen, senior aviculturist at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. “Our team here at Cincinnati Zoo is head-over-heels for these birds and so excited that they’ve come as far as they have and just keep on going.”

Some of the young birds were named in an online voting process and with ongoing care at Palmyra Atoll, the team has become deeply connected with each individual bird.

“Even moreso, Tutuhan, Cincinnati’s first egg, and first chick produced, and the first chick of the entire project is now one of the first to produce eggs on the island,” added Ms Owen. “Her being ‘the first of firsts’ of this ground-breaking conservation work is a milestone that simply fills us with pride, even beyond playing our role in the first place.”

Plans are underway to release more young Sihek on Palmyra Atoll in summer of 2025. Already, egg laying is underway at participating AZA-accredited institutions across the USA. After these eggs hatch and the chicks mature, the young birds will journey to Palmyra, to be released, with the ultimate goal of establishing ten breeding pairs there. The wild Sihek at Palmyra Atoll will pave the way for a growing, wild Sihek population for the first time in decades.

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