Rahul Somvanshi
A tiny, colorful bird chick with an enormous conservation impact has just hatched at the Cincinnati Zoo. The first Sihek (Guam Kingfisher) chick of 2025 represents a crucial step in saving a species that no longer exists in the wild.
“Every chick is vital to the future of this species, and we’re hoping that this is the first of many hatchings to come this year,” said Cincinnati Zoo senior aviculturist Aimee Owen.
This hatching on May 23, 2025, adds one more bird to the roughly 140 Sihek remaining on Earth – all living in zoos and breeding facilities. The entire species vanished from its native Guam in 1988 after the accidental introduction of the brown tree snake in the 1940s devastated the island’s bird populations.
Cincinnati Zoo is among approximately 25 facilities working together to rebuild the Sihek population. The zoo has already played a significant role in the species’ recovery, contributing three birds to a groundbreaking wild release program at Palmyra Atoll last year.
A Bird Returns to the Wild
Last September, nine Sihek were moved from various zoos to Palmyra Atoll, a protected island about 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. This marked the first time since 1988 that these birds lived outside human care.
The results have exceeded expectations. In April 2025, these zoo-raised birds began laying eggs on Palmyra – the first wild Sihek eggs in nearly 40 years.
“These birds were raised in captivity until last year,” Martin Kastner, a biologist working on the project, told Public Radio Guam. “Now they’re foraging, nesting and even laying eggs on their own. It’s an incredible step forward.”
Three pairs of birds are currently incubating eggs at Palmyra, with a fourth pair showing signs they may soon lay eggs.
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A Three-Step Recovery Plan
The Sihek recovery follows a clear roadmap:
- Increase numbers in zoos and breeding facilities
- Establish a wild population on Palmyra Atoll
- Eventually return the birds to their native Guam
The recent Cincinnati Zoo hatching supports the first goal. Two more chicks have hatched at other facilities this year – one at Sedgwick County Zoo and another at Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
“We’re hoping that they will be females, since that’s what the Zoo population really needs at this time,” Owen noted, highlighting the importance of breeding more females to strengthen future reproduction efforts.
The next group of birds was originally scheduled to join the Palmyra population this fall. However, that plan has changed.
“In order to focus on maintaining a stable population of the species in human care, we are postponing the next translocation of birds until 2026,” explained Erica Royer, vice coordinator of the Sihek breeding program at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Cultural Significance
For the indigenous CHamoru people of Guam, the Sihek represents more than just a bird. Yolonda Topasña, Program Coordinator for Guam’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, has described the species as a “symbol of our island’s beauty.”
The bird’s potential return to Guam would not only restore part of the island’s ecosystem but also reconnect its people with an important cultural heritage.
The Long Road Ahead
Despite recent successes, bringing the Sihek back from the brink remains challenging. The birds are descendants of just 29 individuals captured in the 1980s, creating genetic challenges that require careful breeding management.
Meanwhile, the brown tree snake remains present on Guam, making immediate reintroduction impossible. Long-term snake control efforts continue on the island.
The Sihek’s story reflects both the devastating impact humans can have on natural ecosystems and our capacity to work together to repair that damage. Each new chick, including the one just hatched in Cincinnati, represents another small step toward bringing a silent forest back to life.
