Extinct Guam Kingfisher Reintroduced to the Wild After 36 Years

Six hand-reared sihek birds released on predator-free Palmyra Atoll, marking a milestone in conservation efforts.

The sihek, or Guam kingfisher, had been extinct in the wild since 1988 due to predation by the invasive brown tree snake.
Six sihek were released on Cooper Island, part of the Palmyra Atoll, after being hand-reared by specialists from various zoos, including Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas.
This effort is part of the Sihek Recovery Program, a global collaboration aimed at eventually reintroducing the species to its native Guam.
The released birds are equipped with radio trackers to monitor their adaptation, foraging, and breeding behaviors in the new environment.
Three additional sihek are still being monitored and will be released once they are deemed ready to survive in the wild.