Home / Environment / Bermuda's Cahow: From Extinct to Thriving Seabird
Bermuda's Cahow: From Extinct to Thriving Seabird
16 Oct
Summary
- Cahow, extinct for over 300 years, now has 165 breeding pairs.
- Settlers' introduced animals and hunting nearly caused extinction.
- Chicks were moved to Nonsuch Island for safety from storms.
The cahow, a unique seabird native to Bermuda, has defied extinction after being considered lost for over three centuries. As of July 2025, the species boasts 165 established breeding pairs, a significant recovery from its lowest point. In 2025, 78 chicks successfully fledged, nearing the record set in 2021.
Introduced animals like hogs, cats, and rats, along with hunting by early settlers, decimated the cahow population, leading to its presumed extinction by the 1620s. The birds were rediscovered in 1951 with only 18 breeding pairs inhabiting small, low-lying islets vulnerable to storms.
Dedicated conservationists have worked for decades to protect the cahow. Efforts included rat control and building artificial burrows, increasing the population to 53 pairs by 2000. More recently, chicks were relocated to Nonsuch Island between 2004 and 2008 to escape storm damage and sea-level rise.
These conservation measures have proven effective, with the first egg laid on Nonsuch in January 2009 and returned birds establishing new colonies. While still considered endangered, the cahow's remarkable resurgence demonstrates the success of sustained conservation efforts, with a March 2026 update noting new hatches on Nonsuch.
