Guam Sihek Released to the Wild

Six sihek (Guam kingfisher) are now officially living in the wild in the tropical forests of Palmyra Atoll. This release marks the first time since the 1980s these beautiful birds will reside in the wild.  

The release is the result of years of work by the Sihek Recovery Program, a global collaborative of conservationists dedicated to reestablishing 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), 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. 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 past several months at the Sedgwick County Zoo for the 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 traveled from Wichita, Kansas, to temporary aviaries on TNC’s preserve and research station at Cooper Island Aug. 28. Specialists cared for the palm-sized birds, ensuring that the sihek safely settled into their aviaries, acclimatized to their new homes and received daily feedings.  

The birds displayed very promising behavior such as eating right away, instinctually preening when they experienced their first rainfall and successfully hunting the spiders, geckos and crabs they will rely on for food. 

 “It has been a multi-year endeavor to get the birds to this point, from breeding the sihek, incubating the eggs, hand rearing the chicks and now releasing them in Palmyra,” said Erica Royer, a bird keeper from NZCBI who assisted with the translocation and release. “As someone who cares for sihek on a daily basis, it is monumental to be able to reintroduce these individuals into the wild after more than three decades.” 

 Prior to release from the aviaries, each sihek underwent a health exam. A tiny radio tracker was fitted to each bird before the release so the project team can monitor their movements as they settle into new habitat at 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. 

“Palmyra Atoll is an ideal location for rewilding these magnificent birds,” said Alex Wegmann, TNC’s Lead Scientist for Island Resilience. “It is one of the healthiest land and ocean ecosystems on the planet, is free of invasive predators like rats, is carefully studied and monitored and is fully protected as a national wildlife refuge and TNC preserve. Extensive research shows Palmyra’s forests are ideal for the sihek and that introducing it will have minimal effects on native wildlife there.”  

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 treesnake. The Guam DOAG and AZA rescued 29 sihek and established a captive-care program, which currently is composed of 127 adult sihek across 25 institutions nationwide. 

Palmyra Atoll was selected as the inaugural site for sihek to be released to the wild because it is invasive 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. TNC manages a preserve and research station at Palmyra on Cooper Island. These facilities enable globally significant ocean, coral reef and island research and restoration such as this sihek project. The atoll will provide the sihek a safe, wild home to thrive in and establish a breeding population, with the goal of one day returning the species to Guam once the threat from snakes is addressed.    

At this time, six of the nine sihek were deemed ready for release. The remaining three sihek will be released individually as each bird reaches milestones needed to survive in the wild. 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 ten 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.

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. 

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 DOAG’s website 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 Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office or connect with them through these social media channels on Facebook, Flickr,  Tumblr or Twitter. 

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 their leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, they bring people closer to nature and use their expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow. Visit ZSL for more information.    

Working with partners, ZSL formed an Extinct in the Wild Alliance to drive forward species recovery of the world’s most threatened species and to secure the future for these species and restore them responsibly back into safe wild habitat. They are drawing a line in the sand to halt human-induced species extinction. Find out more at Extinct in the Wild | The Zoological Society of London (zsl.org). 

The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and 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, they create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As part of their 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 TNC's Hawai‘i and Palmyra website. 

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 Kansas. The Sedgwick County Zoo is a not-for-profit organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

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 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. For tickets and more information, visit aviary.org.   

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 No. 1 Best Zoo and the No. 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 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. 

Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment 

Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment (ASE) is composed of nearly 1,000 Cast Members, including professionals in the fields of science, conservation, education, nutrition, animal husbandry and animal health. ASE Cast Members can be found globally, including Florida, California, Hawaii and The Bahamas. Most of the ASE team resides at Walt Disney World Resort, delivering the absolute best animal care to more than 300 species and 5,000 animals across Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT and Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ASE Cast have collaborated with renowned experts to help increase populations of endangered and threatened species. 

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Photo credit: Thomas Mangloña II, KUAM  

Photo caption: Red-backed salamanders were found to be highly abundant across northeastern forests, with nearly three times the average density in Virginia.