The Overjoy of Rediscovering a Long-Lost Pigeon
One rare bird, which has remained an enigma since its last observation and documentation by researchers in 1882, has recently ignited the interest of specialists. Specifically, the black-naped pheasant pigeon has flown under the radar for so long, but ever since, there were still reports of occasional sightings from local hunters. After 140 years, this critically endangered bird has unexpectedly resurfaced in Papua New Guinea.
The black-naped pheasant pigeon, according to experts, appears to have an intriguing pair of red eyes and exhibits a gradient of black and orange feathers. This avifauna lives within the rugged, beyond Fergusson Island and off the shoreline of Papua New Guinea’s southeastern region.
A team comprising researchers from different institutions (American Bird Conservancy, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Museum of Papua New Guinea) arrived in September 2022 in hopes of discovering the elusive creature. The team even coordinated with locals to assist them in setting up camera traps so they could at least capture an image of the shifty bird with high optimism.
The researchers attempted to spot the cagey lifeform for almost one month until they decided it was time to leave the island without any evidence. Two days before the team was about to depart the island, though, postdoctoral researcher Jordan Boersma from Cornell Lab of Ornithology went through camera footage one last time when suddenly he became stunned seeing the bird walk past the device.
According to the research team, they attributed the success of the rediscovery of the black-naped pheasant pigeon to one local hunter by the name of Augustin Gregory. The hunter informed the researchers that he last saw the ground-dwelling creature in steep valleys and ridges.
For animal conservationists and scientists, there’s an unparalleled feeling of satisfaction for every rediscovered species, especially if professionals consider a particular creature extinct for a long time.
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