After 55 Years of Hiding, This Rare Bird of Prey Finally Exposes Itself – You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!

For more than five decades, the New Britain Goshawk, a rare bird of prey native to Papua New Guinea, was believed to be lost to science. Not a single verified sighting, photograph, or recording of the bird had been made since 1969, leading many to wonder if this elusive species had vanished. Until now.

In March, wildlife photographer Tom Vierus, known for his conservation work, made a groundbreaking discovery while on a photography expedition with The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Vierus was on New Britain, an island in Papua New Guinea, photographing bird species in the dense forests of Pomio, accompanied by local guides. Unbeknownst to him at the time, one of his photos had captured something extraordinary: the first-ever image of the New Britain Goshawk, a bird that had not been photographed in over 55 years.

An Unexpected Discovery

Vierus, based in Fiji, was participating in an expedition aimed at documenting wildlife in the biodiverse Nakanai Ranges. While taking shots of various birds, he captured the image of the New Britain Goshawk without realizing its significance.

“I was on a scoping trip with WWF in Pomio [eastern New Britain], with three members of the local community guiding us through the forest, so we could better understand the presence of species,” Vierus explained in a press release.

“I photographed several bird species, including the New Britain Goshawk, but wasn’t aware of the significance at the time.”

Confirmation from Ornithologists

It wasn’t until experts reviewed the photo that the magnitude of the find was fully realized. Internationally-renowned ornithologists confirmed that Vierus had indeed photographed the long-lost New Britain Goshawk, marking the first known image of the bird in over half a century.

“It was such a great surprise to hear that this photo seems to be the first-ever of this ‘lost species’!” Vierus said. “It is wonderful to see how conservation photography can help in safeguarding areas by documenting the existing biodiversity and also a good reminder of how important visual storytelling is.”

The New Britain Goshawk, known scientifically as Accipiter princeps, had been categorized as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its rare sightings and the absence of any photographic or sound recordings. It was only known from four historical specimens, with the last confirmed evidence being a 1969 specimen housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

A Conservation Success Story

The photograph marks an exciting milestone not only for ornithologists but also for conservation efforts in the region. The Nakanai Ranges, where the bird was photographed, are part of a rugged and biodiverse area in Papua New Guinea, home to a wide range of unique wildlife. The region is also part of the Sublime Karsts, a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site, highlighting its global ecological significance.

“I truly hope this mostly pristine part of the world can remain as intact as possible with the help of the local communities, their already existing conservation initiatives, and the support of WWF,” Vierus shared.

The importance of the discovery lies not only in documenting the species but also in raising awareness about the need for continued conservation efforts. With the New Britain Goshawk’s reemergence, there is hope that other “lost” species may still be thriving in remote and undisturbed areas of the world.

Rediscovering Hope

The confirmation of the New Britain Goshawk’s existence brings renewed hope for conservationists. John Mittermeier, Director of the Search for Lost Birds at the American Bird Conservancy, affirmed the significance of this rediscovery: “While there have been multiple sight-only records in the intervening years, the New Britain Goshawk seems to have eluded photo, sound, and specimen documentation for 55 years.”

The image captured by Vierus is not just a photograph; it’s a symbol of hope, proving that even after decades, nature holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. As conservation efforts continue to protect fragile ecosystems like the forests of New Britain, stories like this inspire us to keep looking, keep preserving, and keep believing that what is lost can be found.

The New Britain Goshawk is no longer just a name in a dusty record or a specimen behind glass. Thanks to a single photograph, it has taken flight in the modern world once again.