Once “Extinct” Bird Makes an Exciting Comeback

In Kyrgyzstan, the Little Bustard, a pheasant-sized grassland bird once declared extinct nationally, is now making a comeback, with hundreds of breeding pairs documented in key valleys.

Having been listed as nationally extinct as recently as 2006, the Little Bustard has made an outstanding recovery, with current estimates putting its nesting population as large as 1,900 individuals.

Recent surveys in the Chuy and Talas valleys suggest between 1,400 and 1,900 nesting birds, restoring presence after decades of loss. The bird had disappeared under pressure from agricultural intensification and habitat conversion tied to Soviet-era land policies. Its resurrection illustrates how nature can bounce back when conditions improve — bringing hope for grassland ecosystems and the species that depend on them.