The Search for Lost Birds project has made some heartwarming successes, such as the rediscovery of the Santa Marta sabrewing in 2022. This iridescent blue and green hummingbird surprised a researcher in Colombia with its unexpected appearance. Similarly, the Dusky Tetraka, a bird that favored rivers, remained elusive until an expedition team located the species in Madagascar in 2023.
The urgency of this project cannot be overstated. As the climate and nature crisis continues to devastate our planet, remote and critically endangered species like these lost birds are at risk of disappearing before conservation efforts can save them. Christina Biggs, leader of the Search for Lost Species at Re:wild and a co-author of the project’s paper, emphasized the importance of this research. She stressed the need to include indigenous, local community, and citizen science knowledge in the effort to prevent the extinction of threatened species.
The Search for Lost Birds project is driven by the knowledge that some of these lost birds still exist somewhere. The challenge lies in locating them before it is too late to save them from extinction. With each successful rediscovery, we are one step closer to ensuring that these unique and beautiful creatures continue to thrive on our planet.
