In the late 1940's to early 1950's a tree dwelling, bird eating snake native to Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands found it's way to the tropical island paradise of Guam. Upon arrival the brown tree snake found a rich bird life unaccustomed to predatory snakes and thus easy prey to the adept nocturnal snake. No one is completely sure how the brown tree snake got to Guam, however, the most likely carriers were the cargo holds of military ships or planes. By the early 1980's the effect of the brown tree snake on Guam's birds was dramatic, with several species well on their way to extinction. Unfortunately, some were lost forever to the ecological disaster on Guam, falling into the depths of extinction. However, the Guam rail and Micronesian kingfisher survive in zoos as remnants of the once flourishing bird life of Guam. The birds were brought to zoos as a cooperative effort between AZA zoos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Guam Department of Natural Resources with the goal of some day repatriating Guam.

Micronesian kingfisher Curator of Birds, Anita Cramm, keeps an eye on Micronesian kingfishers tending their nest at a behind-the-scenes habitat in LPZ's Bird House. During breeding and young-raising, many animals at the zoo are monitored via closed-circuit TV to avoid disturbing them.     Guam rail Lincoln Park Zoo is helping reintroduce the Guam rail and other endangered species back into the wild, providing hope that the balance of nature will be returned. The ground-nesting Guam rails tend to live in pairs and prefer dense brush where they hunt snails, lizards and insects. Micronesian kingfishers nest in tree hollows and perch on branches that afford good views of ground-level prey, including lizards and other small animals. The kingfishers often bring their catch back to the tree to dine. The McCormick Bird House reminds visitors that protecting and conserving birds means preserving their habitats around the world.