The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing the experimental population of sihek (Guam kingfisher, Todiramphus cinnamominus) at The Nature Conservancy's Cooper Island nature preserve and the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Sihek are endemic to the island of Guam but have been extinct in the wild since 1988 due to predation by the brown tree snake. Currently the species is managed under human care at Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities in the U.S. mainland and at Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources. Captive bred sihek would be released on Palmyra Atoll as an experimental population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act, which designates the population as experimental to support the reintroduction of the at-risk species to foster long-term recovery. This has been an on-going collaborative effort with several partner agencies.
“The introduction of sihek to Palmyra Atoll will help us learn about the species response to being back in the wild after 30 years,” said Megan Laut, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Program Manager. “We will also learn the most effective release and monitoring techniques so that we can one day reintroduce the species back on Guam once the invasive brown treesnake can be controlled. It also seeks to increase the global population of this species, as facilities under human care are at capacity.”
The sihek population, like many other native species, declined following the introduction of the predatory brown tree snake to Guam in the 1950s. Today, only two of Guam’s 12 native forest birds remain in the wild. The successful release of the sihek could inspire similar recovery initiatives on Guam, while increasing the species’ global population.
“The disappearance of Guam’s birds has not only impacted our environment, but by losing the sihek and other birds, we have lost members of our community,” said Anthony Tornito, wildlife biologist for Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources. “This proposed experimental conservation translocation of our sihek to Palmyra Atoll not only benefits the sihek but gives us the opportunity to highlight Guam’s biological uniqueness not just to the community but to the world. This release is coinciding with Guam’s CHamoru cultural renaissance and this initial release on Palmyra Atoll is a catalyst for the species’ eventual, and long-awaited, return to the wild on Guam.”
“Like all extinct-in-the-wild species, the fate of sihek rests directly in our hands,” said Dr. John Ewen of the Zoological Society of London and chair of the Sihek Recovery Team. “We have the opportunity to return this species to the wild in a highly responsible way, learning about their needs in a wild environment with low risk. Preventing extinction requires a substantial increase in sihek numbers and this can best be achieved through wild releases. Palmyra Atoll has the potential to increase the global sihek population by 42%. At the same time, Palmyra Atoll allows close observation of how sihek will cope with the transition to wild living, where we can intervene and support individual birds as needed and also remove them if required. It is rare to have this much control and we will utilize this to secure the recovery of this iconic species.”
The recovery of the sihek has been an ongoing partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Service, Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, and ZSL (Zoological Society of London).
“At only 5% of Earth’s total land area, islands host a disproportionately large percentage of the planet’s biodiversity,” said Dr. Alex Wegmann, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy’s Island Resilience Strategy. “Yet, island species are also at greater risk of extinction than species in continental areas. The plan to ‘rewild’ sihek at Palmyra Atoll is a courageous reversal of the island species extinction trend. Through this action, we will not only learn about the sihek diet and habitat needs in a wild setting, we will further thinking towards and practice the safeguarding of Earth’s biodiversity.”
The sihek is a striking cinnamon-brown bird with bright blue wings and tail. It has a long, heavy bill that indicates its predatory feeding behavior. Sihek feeds entirely on animal prey including skinks, geckos, spiders, beetles, and land crabs. They are a “sit and wait predator” that perch motionless on exposed branches and swoop down to capture prey off the ground with their bill. They are socially monogamous, and pairs share responsibilities such as territory defense, incubation, and chick rearing.
This proposed rule will be available for public comment for 30 days. An electronic copy of the document is available at the Federal Register: Click Here
To request additional information or submit written comments, please use one of the following methods.
- You may submit written comments through our website: https://www.regulations.gov
- Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0061.
- You may submit written comments and materials through the mail:
- Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0061; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Honolulu, HI 96850.
For further information contact: Megan Laut, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, by email at Megan_Laut@fws.gov. You can also visit our Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office webpage for more information.
In order to be considered, comments must be received on or before September 30. All comments and materials received will become part of the public record associated with this action. The USFWS will accept comments received or postmarked on or before September 30.
Original source can be found here.
