The Search for Lost Birds

When a bird species hasn’t been spotted in the wild for more than 10 years, scientists worry that it might have become extinct. The Search for Lost Birds project is dedicated to rediscovering these lost species. In 2022, the project started assembling a list of every lost bird from around the world—144 species in total. Between 2022 and 2024, 14 of those species have been found!

Once a lost species has been spotted, the project partners with local communities to protect the animals. “Each rediscovery is a huge celebration,” says Christina Biggs, a lost species officer at Re:wild, a conservation group involved in the project. “It’s incredible to know there’s a chance to recover these species—they’re still out there!”