Hawaii’s native stilt was 'on the brink' of extinction—now, a community effort has brought them back from the edge.

Hawaii’s native stilt population grew to over 1,500 birds after decades of conservation work. The species fell to roughly 200 individuals in the 1940s due to habitat loss and predators. In July 2026, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified the bird from federally endangered to threatened, marking a major success.