Start small, start now: Easter, eggs, hope for our Guam sihek

Just a little while ago, our Islan Guåhan celebrated Easter, a time filled with the spirit of renewal and hope. Beautifully, it seems that the same hope-filled energy reached our precious Guam sihek, also known as Guam kingfishers, on Palmyra Atoll as they’ve been busy nesting and laying eggs during this season of new beginnings!

As the Easter season carries us into summer, the partners that make up the Sihek Recovery Project are the Guam Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, DAWR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Zoological Society of London, and Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Notably, several institutions and zoos contributed staff resources and egg logistics. All of these contributions have led us all to witnessing a miraculous event: the first wild nesting behavior of these sihek in a very long time. For a complete list of all these wonderful contributors, contact DAWR’s Wildlife Team.

Let’s give a warm round of applause to the nine pioneering kingfishers, in pairing order: meet Tutuhan and Hinanao, Långet and Mames, Guifi and Yayas, Fuetsa and Sindalu, and the independent Ha’åni.

And the exciting news doesn’t stop there. These little sihek are now laying wild eggs! Our star, Tutuhan, which means beginning, led the way, becoming the first female to reproduce, with the team capturing precious photos of her two eggs nestled in an old coconut tree.

Currently, four pairs have established their territories and built nests, and three of these pairs have laid eggs. While it’s still early days, and fertile eggs might take some time as these young birds mature, this wild breeding is a monumental step. It signifies a return we haven’t seen since the Guam sihek’s wild population was discovered to have drastically declined from Guam in the 1980s.

Leading this renewal is Tutuhan, a true pioneer. Hatched just last spring, she was described as remarkably self-assured, even attempting to feed herself before she was truly capable! Now, witnessing her lay her own wild eggs and diligently care for them fills all of us with immense hope, not only for her future but for the eight other Sihek as well.

This little bird is quite the strong female, having even asserted herself in the pursuit of love, vying with two other females, Långet and Guifi, for Hinanao’s affection. Adding to her impressive story, Tutuhan just celebrated her first birthday on April 28.

Here’s how you can help our birds:

• Become a BTS buster: Join the Friends of Islan Dåno’ and DAWR by volunteering for BTS searches on Islan Dåno’. Start a village search, contact DAWR for guidance on equipment, and safe searching practices at (671) 735-3981.

• Track the sihek by following/sharing along on Instagram, @Sihek_recovery_project.

• Spark interest in your school by starting a sihek club! Call DAWR for ideas and connect with your club advisor.

As a fellow citizen scientist passionate about the Guåhan sihek, ko’ko’, and såli, I believe even small collective actions create big change. Let’s connect with the sihek story, understand their challenges, and actively conserve our local biodiversity.

By starting small now, we cultivate hope for a future with Guåhan’s native birds.

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