KOB Eyewitness News 4 got a unique opportunity to be present as a baby bird at the Albuquerque Biopark Zoo started to open its eyes for the first time.
It may not sound like such a big deal, but KOB4 discovered the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher was opening his eyes to a world with very few birds like him - his species is practically extinct.
The species is so rare that the chick is only one of 135 throughout the world. Right now it's being raised by Albuquerque Biopark Zoo staff.
Peter Shannon, the zoo's curator of birds, has dealt with hundreds - if not thousands - of species, but said this one is special.
"This species disappeared from the wild on Guam - by 1988 there were none left in the wild," Shannon said.
For almost 25 years the species has only survived in zoos and conservation centers.
The zoo now has five of the birds and Shannon said he's been caring for the newest member ever since he hatched.
Read more and see video: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2714409.shtml?cat=504
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