We are officially a day away from the hopeful release of the Guam Sihek into the wild on Palmyra Atoll.

KUAM’s Thomas Manglona will join the birds’ journey from Kansas. Before taking off, he sat down with zoo officials who have played a critical role in recovery efforts. 

“We have had a flurry of activity over the last 2 or 3 weeks as we get ready for this kind of momentous flight,” said Scott Newland, President & CEO of Sedgwick County Zoo. 

The entire team at the Sedgwick County zoo, where the birds are under quarantine, has seen the ups and downs of the project since it was delayed last year after there weren’t enough birds.

“The birds still didn't read the manual and it has been a pretty protracted breeding season. but the good news is we've had a lot more egg-laying. We've had a lot better success transporting the eggs to Wichita or transporting chicks the day after they hatched here,” said Newland. 

 

Anne Heitman is the curator of birds who has overseen some of the logistics of the project locally.

“We are naturally now the hub of the chick rearing part. So we've gotten to participate a little bit in helping raise the chicks. But really, we're more on the logistical side and making sure that they have supplies that they need the food. Our commissary staff, our vet and med staff, have been really integral in making sure they have everything they need. The bird staff are helping out with different supplies and things that they need in the trailer,” said Heitman. 

Bird keeper Travis Euwer went to Palmyra for a week last year to help prepare the aviaries for the Sihek’s arrival.

“So all we had to do was gather up all of our supplies that had been shipped out there. And then we just spent a week just setting up the cages and everything. It was an interesting challenge dealing with the weather on Palmyra. It gets a lot of rain,” said Euwer. 

The team remains hard at work to one day help the Sihek return to Guam.

“For the people of Guam, thank you for trusting us with your birds and being part of this project to continue moving the species forward,” said Emma Koepp, Zoological Manager at Sedgwick County Zoo.