The ulūlu, also known as Hawaiʻi’s millerbird, is no longer listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The organization's Red List of Threatened Species now lists the ulūlu as just endangered.
The bird was once only found on Nīhoa and Laysan in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The American Bird Conservancy in a news release said the now-steady growth of ulūlu is the result of decades of conservation work.
The Laysan Island population of ulūlu went extinct in the early 1900s after rabbits and other introduced animals removed the island's vegetation.
Invasive animals were removed from Laysan in the 1920s, and the natural vegetation was allowed to recover.
Over 10 years ago, conservationists reintroduced dozens of ulūlu to the restored island from Nīhoa Island to create a second population of the species and help reduce the risk of extinction.
Experts say hundreds of ulūlu live on Laysan Island today.
Chris Farmer, ABC's Hawai‘i program director, said the successful relocation of ulūlu is an "exciting, collaborative victory for Hawaiian conservation."
“The population increase on Laysan will help protect this species’ future, and shows that long-term support and commitment can prevent extinctions of any other Hawaiian birds," he added.
