Birds take flight on day two of MICC

03/11/25 - On day two of the MICC, the call to protect the Mariana Islands grows louder. Conservationists, researchers, and local leaders highlighted efforts to restore species like the Ko’ko’ (Guam rail), Åga (Mariana Crow), and Sihek (Guam kingfisher). Discussions on habitat restoration and climate resilience also stressed the need for immediate action.

Looking back on the data from the past six years, Malhotra shared, “We are cautiously optimistic. We can see steady growth in the population. With color-banding, we’ve been able to track 95% of the population, which makes it easier to understand their movements and behaviors. It’s exciting to see the slow but steady improvement.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project is the hands-on work of tracking and banding baby crows. “There’s a lot of joy in handling the baby birds,” said Malhotra. “We track them, band them, and years later, we return to find that these birds have their own babies. It’s a rewarding feeling to see how our work directly contributes to the population growth.”

The project still faces challenges. “We’re not there yet, but we worry about future funding for this project,” Malhotra explained. “We’ve had success so far, but we need to keep moving forward with the support we have.”

What makes the Aga so special is not only its endangered status but also its unique nature within the crow family. As Malhotra pointed out, the Aga is a tropical crow, unlike the more commonly known American crows. “There’s very little known about tropical crows in general, so every discovery we make about the Aga is important,” he said.

Another key question the team continues to explore is what constitutes a healthy population of Aga. “At what point do we stop intervening? How do we know when the species has recovered enough to thrive on its own?” Malhotra reflected. These are questions the team is working hard to answer, but they remain dedicated to long-term data collection and monitoring.

One of the most notable changes in the project is the growing involvement of the local community. Malhotra noted, “Because I was here 8 years ago, the perception of the Aga in the community has changed. It’s really cool coming back to Rota last year, a lot of people asked us about the bird! So many of the kids with various classes who come to the zoo facility and so many of them ask questions and are interested about the Aga!”

"They're a priority species. We don't want them to fall into a big decline," said Kaeli Swift, PhD, a bird biologist based in Tinian under the University of Washington. "To prevent that, we need a lot of information about their natural history. For the past four years, a lot of our work has been focused on reproductive success. What causes nest failure? How many times do they re-nest? If a nest fledges a young - meaning a chick successfully gains flight and leaves the nest - do we continue to see it? Does it survive?"

Swift's project, which was outlined in the presentation entitled, "Tinian monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae) home range size across Tinian’s forest types," focuses on determining the areas that these birds use among three types of forests: native limestone, tangantangan-dominated, and secondary forest.

As opposed to territories, which are areas that animals defend, home ranges are regions that animals travel within for their normal daily activities.

To conduct this research, small radio telemetry units would be attached to the Tinian monarchs to determine their location within the jungle. 

"Through that effort, we were able to show that monarch home ranges are the smallest in native forests and the largest in tangantangan forests. What that told us is that we can probably fit more monarchs in native forests than we can in tangantangan," said Swift. "And so then when we combine that with the rest of our data, what that tells us is that native forests are better for monarchs. They are more productive in that forest type than they are in our degraded forests, which tells us that we should be doing more forest reforestation."

As far as Swift’s experience with attending MICC, she says that she appreciates the accessibility the conference provides to the communities the featured research serves. 

"I think that we have to acknowledge that because of the long history of colonialism that the Marianas has experienced, there's a lot of folks who are disconnected from their wildlife," said Swift. "It's a privilege for me - a non-local, somebody who is from the mainland - to be able to spend some time in the forest and get to know these birds so well. I think one of the most important components of being a good steward of that privilege is sharing this work so that people who don't feel comfortable about going into the jungle or maybe can't go into the jungle to see these birds can get this information. "

Swift is one of the founders of Marianas Nature (@marianasnature), a collaborative page on Instagram that was created to encourage public engagement through featuring contributed photos of various fish, plants, birds, and other organisms found within the Marianas. For anyone interested in learning more about Marianas wildlife or joining a guided bird tour in Tinian, please visit @marianasnature on Instagram. 

Reconnecting with Roots: Environmental Advocacy

Alexi Rubuenog is blending her heritage with her passion for environmental advocacy. As one of the conference organizers from the CNMI, Rubuenog is dedicated to making a positive impact on her community and the environment.

Set to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Human Services, Alexi’s journey into conservation evolved from a desire to help others to a commitment to preserving her island’s natural resources.

“I initially wanted to work in the social work field during my junior year, but then I ended up applying to do fieldwork assisting Dr. Haldre Rogers with the Ecology Bird Loss Project. I love being in nature, and that project helped me become more connected with my roots,” she shared.

Through her involvement with the Ecology Bird Loss Project, Rubuenog collaborated with Dr. Haldre Rogers and was able to expand her network within the conservation field. This experience opened doors to partnerships with key figures like John Bender, who focuses on Pacific bird conservation. Working alongside scientists and researchers from various U.S. zoos has broadened her understanding of the urgent need to protect local species.

One of the most pressing challenges Rubuenog identifies is the lack of environmental education in CNMI schools. “Environmental education is not being taught in the schools as much as we should. I learned more about what’s outside in the CNMI through these projects,” she noted. 

Rubuenog encourages young people interested in conservation and science to pursue their passions. “I would advise them not to hold themselves back. If you’re interested in science and conservation, then seek out internships, make connections with people, and share your interests. Take me for example, I had no idea that I wanted to pursue science. I grew up on the farm playing. Don’t hold yourself back and don’t doubt yourself.”

Looking Ahead : Day 3 

Wednesday will be filled with local adventures. Attendees will participate in an Atan Tano Heritage Preserve Tour, Mangrove Cleanup, As Gadao Tour, Coral Reef Snorkeling, and beekeeping at UOG Triton Farm. From hiking restoration sites to exploring traditional healing at Åmot Garden, there’s something for everyone. The day will end with a fun Marianas Natural History Trivia Night, bringing everyone together for some friendly competition. It’s a day of discovery and connection with our culture and environment.

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Story and videos by Amanda Dedicatoria & Eloise Lopez

Photos by Eliseo Silverio III and Thomas Manglona II

Edited by Thomas Manglona II

View more photos from day two at our Marianas Press Facebook page.

This coverage is brought to you in partnership with Tåno, Tåsi, yan Todu as part of a workforce development program related to environmental journalism led by Marianas Press’s Thomas Manglona II.