Guam Sihek Released to the Wild
Conservation Partnership Advances the Establishment of the First Wild Population in Nearly 40 years on Palmyra Atoll
Nine sihek (Guam kingfisher) – have been released to the wild on the predator-free island of Palmyra Atoll. Great hopes rest on the wings of these sihek – as they take flight and depart their temporary aviaries, making them the first of their kind to reside in the wild since the 1980s.
Three of these sihek were hatched and hand-reared at the National Aviary – one female and two male chicks affectionately named, Långet, which means “heaven” or “sky” in CHamoru; Mames, which means “sweet” and Sindålu (sin-duh-loo), meaning warrior. Sindålu’s fertile egg was entrusted to the Aviary‘s care by the Cincinnati Zoo before his hatching in their Breeding Center.
Two National Aviary sihek chicks in portable incubator
These release efforts are part of the Sihek Recovery Program, a global collaboration of conservationists dedicated to re-establishing the sihek in the wild for return to its homeland in Guam. The Program includes partners from the: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Guam Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources (DOAG), Zoological Society of London (ZSL), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sedgwick County Zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These partners are globally recognized leaders in animal care, conservation translocation, ecological restoration and wild population management and have applied their expertise to recover several other extinct in the wild species.
“Our Guam Sihek, a symbol of our island’s beauty, with their cerulean blue and cinnamon coloration mirroring our ocean blue water and red-orange sunsets, have been achieving the seemingly impossible,” said Yolonda Topasna, DOAG Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Program coordinator. “Today, the Sihek were set free from their aviaries! Their return to the wild is a testament to our people’s spirit and our commitment to preserving our heritage.”
Topsana added, “I’m sad to not be joining them at this milestone, however, I envision myself speaking CHamoru with them soon! To our Sihek, siempre un li’e’ iyon-måmi tåno’ yan tåsi. Nihi ta fan gumupu ya kumånta i CHamoru na kånta todu i lugåt (you will certainly see our homeland, our sea, and together we will fly and sing CHamoru songs in all places).”
A total of nine young birds —four female and five male sihek — were hand-reared over the last several months at the Sedgwick County Zoo for this historic rewilding. AZA partners contributing eggs or young chicks to this effort include the Brookfield Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment), National Aviary, and Sedgwick County Zoo. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) coordinated egg selection and transfer and managed the care of the birds along with ZSL staff. The sihek made their maiden voyage from Wichita, Kansas to temporary aviaries on The Nature Conservancy preserve and research station at Cooper Island on August 28, 2024. Specialists have been caring for the palm-sized birds, ensuring that the sihek safely settled into their aviaries, acclimatized to their new homes, and received daily feedings.
Over the past weeks, the sihek were in their forest aviaries acclimatizing to their new home while being fed and closely monitored by TNC project staff. During that time, they were observed displaying very promising behavior traits like instinctually preening when they experienced their first rainfall and successfully hunting the spiders, geckos, and crabs they will rely on for food.
Prior to release from the aviaries, each sihek was given a thorough health exam. A tiny telemetry device, also known as a radio transmitter tracker, was fitted to the birds to monitor their movements as they settle into new habitat locations across the atoll. Sihek are a territorial species, and the team expects the birds will establish home ranges quickly, which will also help with locating and monitoring them with a special focus on habitat use, foraging, and eventual breeding. Supplemental food will also be available to help them transition to the wild.
“The National Aviary is one of only four institutions that participated in the important pilot study to help ready some of the sihek population for release into the wild,” said Kurt Hundgen, Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation Programming at the National Aviary. “The kingfishers in our Breeding Center trialed the same ‘backpack’ radio telemetry devices that they will use in the wild. These tiny trackers will help field researchers to monitor the birds’ movements and survival after they are released. We are so excited to see what insights the telemetry units will be able to provide to help guide conservation and land management practices in the future.”
First listed under the Guam Endangered Species Act in 1982, the sihek was subsequently added to the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1984. Endemic to the forests of Guam and culturally important to the CHamoru* people, the sihek have been extinct in the wild since 1988 due to predation by the invasive, Brown Tree Snake. The Guam DOAG and AZA rescued 28 sihek and established a captive-care program, which currently is composed of 127 adult sihek across 25 institutions, nationwide.
“We are demonstrating that passion and partnership can make amazing things happen,” said, Megan Laut, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery program manager. “The diverse skill set and contributions of each partner have led us to this historic milestone and will inform our efforts to grow the global population of sihek and take meaningful advances to return sihek to Guam.”
Palmyra Atoll was selected as the inaugural site for sihek to be released into the wild because it is predator-free and fully protected. Palmyra Atoll is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge and is further protected—out to 50 nautical miles—by the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the largest swaths of ocean and islands protected under a single jurisdiction in the world. Surrounded by this federally protected area is The Nature Conservancy’s preserve and research station on Cooper Island. 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 addressed.
At this time, all nine sihek were deemed ready for release. This approach provides necessary flexibility, as some birds may require more time to prepare for life in the wild. Sihek Recovery Program partners plan to continue supplementing the population annually, with a target of establishing 20 sihek breeding pairs.
This introduction of sihek to Palmyra will allow Sihek Recovery Program partners time to monitor and learn how sihek respond to returning to the wild. This initial release of sihek will help refine and tailor future releases and monitoring techniques, and provide an important step toward the goal of returning sihek to their native home on Guam.
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EDITORS’ NOTES
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: U.S. 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). Until threats on Guam are mitigated, the Sihek Recovery Program is working to identify suitable release locations elsewhere to help grow the global sihek population, safeguard the species against extinction, and refine release methods to support the ultimate goal of returning sihek home to Guam.
The CHamoru people refer to the Guam kingfisher as sihek.
*The CHamoru name is spelt with a capitalised H.
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
The National Aviary, Brookfield Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Sedgwick County Zoo, as well as Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment produced the nine sihek that were hand reared and quarantined at Sedgwick County Zoo, and then transported to Palmyra Atoll for release. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) coordinated egg selection and transfer and managed the care of the birds along with ZSL staff.
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. Visit www.doag.guam.gov/dawr for more information.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/pacificislands, or connect with us through any of these social media channels at https://www.facebook.com/PacificIslandsFWS, www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/, www.tumblr.com/blog/usfwspacific or www.twitter.com/USFWSPacific.
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, California and Hawai‘i – 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).
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.
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.