The Guam Kingfisher Could Soon Return to the Wild After a 30-Year Absence Thanks to Ambitious Scientists

An extended shot rescue plan for the Critically-Endangered Guam kingfisher is ready to happen on the wilds of an island nowhere close to Guam.

Having been extirpated from Guam by way of invasive brown tree snakes, captive breeding facilities have stored the species treading water till now.

A scientific mission born of a partnership between the Nature Conservancy and the Fish and Wildlife Service, to return them to the wilds—not of Guam, however on the Palmyra Atoll chain subsequent 12 months, is probably going their solely hope of long run survival.

Generally within the Anthropocene, biodiversity might be saved—simply not in its authentic type. The world is healthier off with the strikingly stunning Guam kingfisher, all rusty brown with blue prim, however till the previous improper of introducing the brown tree snake might be righted, the “Sihek” because it’s known as within the language of Guam, wants a spot to develop up once more.

In the present day, solely two of Guam’s 12 native forest birds stay within the wild. The profitable launch of the sihek on the atoll may encourage related restoration initiatives on Guam, however most significantly cease the inbreeding that’s at the moment harming the birds’ lifespans in captivity.

“Like all extinct-in-the-wild species, the destiny of sihek rests straight in our palms,” mentioned Dr. John Ewen of the Zoological Society of London and chair of the Sihek Restoration Staff. “Now we have the chance to return this species to the wild in a extremely accountable approach, studying about their wants in a wild setting with low threat.”

The primary problem for the Staff, based in 2020, was discovering a spot to place the fowl. The Cocos Islands subsequent door to Guam was thought a great place, till the invention of a flourishing brown tree snake inhabitants scuppered that concept.

As GNN has reported earlier than, eradication of invasive species on islands has been the good success story of recent conservation. Amongst these beneficiaries are the islands of the Palmyra Atoll, which lie round 1,000 miles south of Hawai’i.

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Palmyra had a rat drawback, however has returned to its pristine state of bugs, geckos, and different animals.

“This proposed experimental conservation translocation of our sihek to Palmyra Atoll not solely advantages the sihek however offers us the chance to spotlight Guam’s organic uniqueness,” said Anthony Tornito, wildlife biologist for Guam Division of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Assets.

The plan is under no circumstances simple. Whereas Palmyra has a scientific analysis station, there’s nothing in the best way of an aviary. All supplies should be flown out prematurely, reports Audubon. 

20 sihek eggs will then be transferred to Hawai’i, and to be able to scale back the chance of overseas germs or parasites spreading on the recently-recovered atoll, the ensuing chicks will likely be hand-reared till 9 of them might be transferred in cages to Palmyra. After getting their “ticket to journey” by the vet touring with them, they’ll lastly have the ability to return to wilderness.

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“This launch is coinciding with Guam’s Chamoru cultural renaissance and this preliminary launch on Palmyra Atoll is a catalyst for the species’ eventual, and long-awaited, return to the wild on Guam,” mentioned Tornito.

It’s going to be long-awaited for the scientists of the Shiek Restoration Staff as effectively, who don’t know which of the out there prey species the sihek will favor, who received’t know what time of 12 months, contemplating the 365-day good temperatures, the birds will breed, or how far they’ll disperse.

“It’s going to be actually fascinating to see what they’ll select to eat as soon as they’re within the wild,” Stefan Kropidlowski, the refuge supervisor of Palmyra Atoll Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, informed Audubon Society.

“We’re such a small, tiny little island that most individuals don’t even learn about—the truth that we may help one other small, little, tiny Pacific island obtain their conservation objectives is incredible.”

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