It felt like finding a unicorn!
Namataan ng team mula sa Cornell Lab of Ornithology ang isang black-naped pheasant pigeon sa isinagawang expedition sa Papua New Guinea noong September 2022.
Ang nasabing kalapati ay kabilang sa critically endangered species, at mahigit 140 years nang hindi nakikita.
Bulalas ni John C. Mittermeier, director ng Search for Lost Birds project ng American Bird Conservancy at core member ng expedition team, "After a month of searching, seeing those first photos of the pheasant pigeon felt like finding a unicorn.
"It's the kind of moment you dream about your entire life as a conservationist and birdwatcher."
Ayon naman kay Jordan Boersma, co-leader ng expedition, "For much of the trip, it seemed like we had no chance of finding this bird.
"We were just two days away from the end of our time on Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea when one of our remote cameras recorded the bird walking around and fanning its tail."
Ang Cornell Lab of Ornithology ay isang unit sa Cornell University, New York, na nagsasaliksik ng tungkol sa mga ibon at iba pang wildlife.
Nakunan ng expedition team ang kauna-unahang video ng black-naped pheasant pigeon—na halos kasinlaki ng manok, at naninirahan sa lupa sa halip na sa mga puno.
Tinatayang sa Fergusson Island na lang ito matatagpuan sa ngayon kung saan may mainit at extremely rugged geothermal terrain at pasikut-sikot na mga ilog, na pinamumugaran ng mga nangangagat na insekto at mga linta.
Walang nakatala tungkol sa black-naped pheasant pigeon maliban sa dalawang specimens na nakolekta noong 1882.
Wala ring naka-record kung ano ang tunog ng huni nito.
Ang ibang pheasant pigeon species sa mainland Papua New Guinea ay parang umiiyak na babae ang huni.
Kasama rin sa expedition si Doka Nason, isang local bird expert. Siya ang nagpayo sa team kung saan posibleng matagpuan ang black-naped pheasant pigeon.
Siya rin ang nag-set up ng camera na nakapag-record sa ibon.
Ani Doka, "When I saw the photos, I was incredibly excited. I was jumping around yelling, 'We did it!'"
Para naman kay Jason Gregg, co-leader ng expedition, "It was an experience of a lifetime working with Fergusson Islanders to find the pheasant pigeon and giving talks at schools and villages about our search was a highlight.
"Kids were whispering the local name of the bird—Auwo—and everyone was talking about it.
"I'm so happy we know this species survives, and it opens opportunities to learn even more about the bird and its incredible home."
Batay sa nakunang video, may kasama pang isa ang black-naped pheasant pigeon.
Gayunpaman ay may malaking agam-agam ang mga conservationists.
Sinabi kasi sa kanila ng may-ari ng property kung saan nakita ang black-naped pheasant pigeon na pumirma ito ng isang kasunduan sa isang logging company para magputol doon ng mga puno.
Magiging banta ito sa mga natitirang black-naped pheasant pigeon at sa kanilang habitat nito.
Sa kasalukuyan ay nangangalap ng pondo ang expedition team para makabalik sa Fergusson at alamin kung may makikita pa silang ibang black-naped pheasant pigeon.
Ani Jordan, "The reason I care, why I think we should all care, is that this bird has meant something and continues to mean something to the local people.
"It's part of their legends and culture. If we lose this species, then its cultural importance will be lost along with the role it plays in this fantastic ecosystem."