Bermuda's Rarest Seabird Soars From 18 Birds to 450

A fuzzy seabird chick hatching on a 14-acre island in Bermuda represents one of conservation's most remarkable turnarounds.

The cahow, Bermuda's national bird and the world's third-rarest seabird, was believed extinct for three centuries. When British ornithologist David Wingate became Bermuda's first conservation officer in 1960, he found just 18 breeding pairs clinging to survival on Nonsuch Island.

Today, 450 cahows of all ages call the island home. Experts recognize the Cahow Recovery Program as one of the world's most successful efforts to save a critically endangered species.

The odds were stacked impossibly high against these birds. Adult cahows take up to six years to return to Nonsuch Island to breed, and females lay only one egg. Half of those eggs never hatch, and up to 35% of chicks that do hatch don't survive their first year.

Wingate transformed the barren island into what he called a "Living Museum of pre-colonial Bermuda." He created artificial concrete nest burrows that mimic the deep, dark rock crevices cahows need for breeding. Today, 85% of all cahows nest in these specially designed burrows.

The island became a complete wildlife sanctuary with strict limits on public access to prevent invasive species. A small freshwater marsh was added, and native trees were planted across the once-bare landscape.

The Ripple Effect

The cahow's recovery sparked a complete ecosystem revival. Yellow-crowned night herons, West Indian top shells, land hermit crabs, and beautiful Bermuda skinks have all returned to Nonsuch Island after the 65-year rewilding effort.

Jeremy Madeiros, who took over the program from Wingate, watched the population grow from 55 birds to today's thriving community. Live camera feeds now allow people worldwide to watch these once-vanished birds raise their chicks in real time.

Bermuda's environment ministry organizes educational expeditions to the island, inspiring the next generation of conservationists with proof that species on the brink can bounce back.