Two of the six birds launched this weekend are from Cincinnati Zoo
CINCINNATI, OH (September 23, 2024) – A significant milestone within the years-long collaborative effort to re-establish the extinct-in-the-wild sihek (Guam kingfisher) species occurred this weekend! Six of the 9 birds that have been translocated to momentary aviaries in Palmyra Atoll, a TNC protect and analysis station situated inside a USFWS refuge, final month have been launched over the weekend and at the moment are formally dwelling within the wild! Two of them (Fuetsa and Sindalu) are from Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Backyard, and one other (Tutuhan) is among the many three that might be launched quickly. This launch marks the primary time for the reason that Eighties these stunning birds will reside within the wild.
Cincinnati Chicks | Photographs | Video (credit are in file names)
“It’s vital to notice that the final passenger pigeon died this month 110 years in the past. Martha lived on the Cincinnati Zoo, which makes it much more thrilling for us to be part of this effort to deliver an extinct-in-the-wild chook again to its native habitat,” mentioned Cincinnati Zoo senior aviculturist Aimee Owen. “We hope that every one 9 birds keep wholesome and lift chicks of their new residence.”
A complete of 9 younger birds —4 feminine and 5 male sihek — have been hand-reared over the past a number of months on the Sedgwick County Zoo for this historic rewilding. AZA companions contributing eggs or younger chicks to this effort embrace the Brookfield Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Backyard, Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Disney’s Animals, Science, and Setting), Nationwide Aviary, and Sedgwick County Zoo. Smithsonian’s Nationwide Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) coordinated egg choice and switch and managed the care of the birds together with ZSL employees. The sihek made their maiden voyage from Wichita, Kansas to momentary aviaries on The Nature Conservancy protect and analysis station at Cooper Island on August 28, 2024. Specialists have been caring for the palm-sized birds, guaranteeing that the sihek safely settled into their aviaries, acclimatized to their new properties, and obtained every day feedings.
Presently, six of the 9 sihek have been deemed prepared for launch. The remaining three sihek might be launched individually as every chook reaches milestones wanted to outlive within the wild. This strategy gives vital flexibility, as some birds could require extra time to organize for all times within the wild. Sihek Restoration Program companions plan to proceed supplementing the inhabitants yearly, with a goal of creating 10 sihek breeding pairs.
Nice hopes relaxation on the wings of those sihek. They’re the results of years of labor by the Sihek Restoration Program*, a world collaborative of conservationists devoted to reestablishing the sihek within the wild for return to its homeland in Guam. The birds have displayed very promising habits reminiscent of consuming straight away, instinctually preening after they skilled their first rainfall and efficiently searching the spiders, geckos and crabs they may depend on for meals.
Previous to launch from the aviaries, every sihek was given a well being examination. A tiny radio tracker was fitted to every chook earlier than launch so the undertaking staff can monitor their actions as they settle into new habitat at places throughout the atoll. Sihek are a territorial species, and the staff expects the birds will set up residence ranges shortly, which may also assist with finding and monitoring them with a particular deal with habitat use, foraging, and eventual breeding. Supplemental meals may also be out there to assist them transition to the wild.
“Palmyra Atoll is a perfect location for rewilding these magnificent birds on their journey again to Guam,” says Alex Wegmann, TNC’s Lead Scientist for Island Resilience. “It is among the healthiest land and ocean ecosystems on the planet, is freed from invasive predators like rats, is fastidiously studied and monitored, and is totally protected as a nationwide wildlife refuge and TNC protect. Intensive analysis reveals Palmyra’s forests are perfect for the sihek and that introducing it’s going to have minimal results on native wildlife there.”
First listed below the Guam Endangered Species Act in 1982, the sihek was subsequently added to the U.S. Endangered Species Checklist in 1984. Endemic to the forests of Guam and culturally vital to the CHamoru* folks, the sihek have been extinct within the wild since 1988 because of predation by the invasive, brown treesnake. The Guam DOAG and AZA rescued 29 sihek and established a captive-care program, which at the moment consists of 127 grownup sihek throughout 25 establishments, nationwide.
Scott Newland, President & CEO of Sedgwick County Zoo, added, “AZA companions have proudly maintained the Sihek inhabitants in human care since 1988. With out the dedication of our aviculturists and the help of zoos, this launch wouldn’t have been doable. Our work with this species has supplied us with precious information, permitting us to tailor this launch to present the birds the very best probability for fulfillment. For AZA, this launch represents the fruits of almost 40 years of collaboration, analysis, and dedication geared toward seeing the Sihek flying again on Guam someday.”
EDITORS’ NOTES
*Sihek Restoration Program:
The Sihek Restoration Program is a world collaborative of conservationists devoted to recovering certainly one of Guam’s most iconic native species, the sihek (Guam kingfisher, Todiramphus cinnamominus). The Sihek Restoration Program is made up of companions from the next organizations: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Guam DAWR, ZSL, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sedgwick County Zoo, AZA, and the Worldwide Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Till threats on Guam are mitigated, the Sihek Restoration Program is working to establish appropriate launch places elsewhere to assist develop the worldwide sihek inhabitants, safeguard the species towards extinction, and refine launch strategies to help the last word purpose of returning sihek residence to Guam.
The CHamoru folks discuss with the Guam kingfisher as sihek.
*The CHamoru title is spelt with a capitalised H.
