Sihek Make Historic Progress

The nine Guam Sihek (Micronesian kingfishers) released into the wild on Palmyra Atoll are showing encouraging signs of adaptation and potential breeding, just five months after their reintroduction—the first since the 1980s.

Conservation specialists Kayla Baker and Jonny Shepherd, affiliated with The Nature Conservancy and the Zoological Society of London, have been closely monitoring the birds. They observed that the Sihek are maturing and exhibiting adult behaviors such as pairing off and defending territories.

While no breeding attempts have been confirmed yet, some birds have been observed practicing excavation and nest-building behaviors, which is a promising sign for future reproduction.

The specialists expressed optimism about the possibility of the Sihek laying eggs in the near future, marking a significant milestone in the species' recovery efforts.