In 1980, the Lord Howe Island woodhen was considered to be highly endangered. Just 15 individuals were found when surveying the island, with the species facing multiple threats as the result of human colonization. Within 10 years of the captive breeding program, the numbers reached 200. This is fantastic success in any threatened species recovery, especially when you consider that 200-250 birds is the islands carrying capacity.
The author described this book as an historical and biological summary of the dramatic decline and
amazing resurrection of the world’s woodhen population. He definitely succeeded. The Woodhen is an important contribution to the literature surrounding threatened species recovery. It is, however, incredibly niche – and wont be useful for most readers.