An Extinct Bird Reappears In The Bahamas
Extinction is the definitive disappearance of animals such as the northern white rhino. Today, many species are extinct or are in danger of extinction. Therefore, when an extinct bird reappears in the Bahamas , the news was greeted with much enthusiasm.
The nuthatch
The nuthatch ( Sitta pusilla ) is a rather elusive bird that lives in the United States. This passerine is found in areas to the south, in the pine forests that abound in areas such as North Carolina.
The nuthatch is a sharp-billed bird that uses its nails to poke seeds on trees. Remember species such as the dwarf climber or other bird species that live on the Iberian Peninsula, such as the beautiful blue climber.
This bird has a blue top of the head, back and wings, while the chest is white, so it is quite striking. Its song is even more curious, since it looks like a duck. It could be one of the birds that inhabit your garden if you live in the United States, since it likes to get close to humans.
The nuthatch reappears in the Bahamas
Although the American nuthatch population is far from extinction, a small island population appears to have survived in the Bahamas. In fact, in this area the nuthatch was considered endangered until 2016, when Hurricane Matthew arrived on the island.
The population living in the Bahamas is considered a distinct subspecies, the Sitta pusilla insularis and, although recently spotted, there may be only two specimens of this “extinct bird”.
Although complicated to see, the truth is that thanks to its song and its appearance, it has been possible to see some specimens of nuthatch. Wildlife observers find this bird a beautiful and unmistakable species. Then, an extinct bird reappears in the Bahamas: the nuthatch.
An extinct bird or a needle in a haystack?
It is believed that in 2004 there were 1,800 specimens, which have drastically decreased in three years to just 23. This is due to the enormous loss of habitat that this bird has suffered , which only nests in mature pines, which have been razed to the ground by ‘hurricane.
The teams that were looking for him were able to locate the nuthatch and even a video was made, confirming that he had not yet disappeared. However, only one pair have been spotted on 34,000 hectares of land along more than 460 observation points.
The researchers visited the forest for a month and a half before they found this bird, so their hopes were running out. However, this animal’s unmistakable song led the team to its first sighting.
Protecting the nuthatch becomes complicated due to the shortage of specimens. Furthermore, deforestation, tourism and invasive species are other factors that threaten this rare bird. However, this discovery gives hope to those who want to protect endangered birds.
