Cahow's Comeback: From Extinct to Thriving

For centuries, the Bermuda petrel, known locally as the cahow, was believed to be extinct, existing only in historical records. This seabird's ground-nesting habits made it vulnerable to hunting and invasive species after European settlement.

In the mid-20th century, a small colony was discovered on remote islands, sparking one of the world's most extensive bird recovery programs. Fifteen-year-old David Wingate joined the search and committed his life to the cahow's survival, a mission that began as conservation was a nascent field.

Wingate's work involved direct intervention, such as creating safer nesting sites and rescuing young birds. He battled challenges like invasive rats and competition for nesting burrows with other species, including white-tailed tropicbirds.

A significant undertaking was the restoration of Nonsuch Island, transforming it into a secure ecosystem. This project involved removing invasive plants, planting native trees, and recreating a habitat suitable for the cahow's expansion.

As of 2026-07-29T12:32:33+00:00, the cahow population has grown significantly since its rediscovery. Decades of effort, from the 1960s to the early 2000s, saw the number of breeding pairs increase. Monitoring between 2000 and 2008 indicated consistent annual chick production.

Despite this progress, the species remains fragile, threatened by extreme weather and rising sea levels due to climate change, impacting its vulnerable nesting grounds.