New research shows that 126 bird species have disappeared from sight for over a decade.

The Search for Lost Birds project has achieved notable successes, including the rediscovery of the Santa Marta sabrewing in 2022. This stunning hummingbird, with its joyous iridescent blue and green plumage, was unexpectedly spotted by a researcher in Colombia. Another triumph was the finding of the Dusky Tetraka in Madagascar in 2023, a species that had eluded scientists due to its preference for rivers.

The urgency of the mission to locate these missing species cannot be overstated. As the global climate and nature crisis escalates, remote and critically endangered birds like these are at high risk of extinction, as they may not benefit from conservation efforts in time to save them. Christina Biggs, leader of the Search for Lost Species at Re:wild, emphasized the importance of this research in guiding conservation efforts. She stressed the need to incorporate diverse knowledge, including that of indigenous communities, local experts, and citizen scientists, to effectively protect endangered species.

Despite the challenges, the project remains hopeful that more lost birds can be found before it is too late. The goal is to ensure that resources are directed towards saving the most threatened species and preventing their extinction. As we are currently facing the sixth mass extinction, expanding scientific collaborations and integrating various sources of knowledge is crucial in this race against time.