Endangered Yellow-billed Cuckoo Spotted in Petrified Forest National Park!

PETRIFIED FOREST, Ariz. — Recent sightings of the endangered Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Petrified Forest National Park have sparked hope for the species’ revival in the region. After decades of absence, two cuckoos were either spotted or heard along the Puerco River on July 6 and July 25, 2023, during specialized acoustic surveys designed to elicit their calls.

The positive trend continued into 2024, with one bird identified on July 15 and another recorded on August 15 during routine bird monitoring efforts. These observations are significant, as the western population of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) has faced prolonged declines, averaging a 1.6% annual loss from 1966 to 2010. Consequently, the species was designated as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014.

Historically, Yellow-billed Cuckoos were known to breed in a specific area of the park during the 1970s, but sightings dwindled in the 1980s. Recent park expansions have enhanced the available habitat, stretching over 26 miles of riverbank, potentially paving the way for the cuckoo’s return. However, breeding activity within park boundaries has yet to be confirmed.

Efforts to restore habitats along the Puerco River are set to continue, targeting riparian zones crucial for the species. Though cuckoos inhabit their breeding grounds only from June through August, the recent observations have revitalized optimism about their future in the area.

National Park officials emphasize that the Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s survival hinges on the protection and restoration of specific forest habitats. In response, conservationists will monitor these key areas in the coming years, aiming for the re-establishment of a breeding population in Petrified Forest National Park.