The species was completely wiped out when the island flooded and disappeared below the sea around 136,000 years ago. Once the bird became extinct it took only 20,000 years for it to return and evolve into the flightless Aldabra rail bird again.

According to researchers, this is one of the fastest recorded timelines of a bird losing its ability to fly, and the first and only known time that a species of bird has become flightless twice.

wiped out = completely destroyed

1. How did the bird become extinct?
2. How long did it take for the bird to re-evolve?
3. Where did this happen?

1. Do you like birds?
2. How many flightless birds can you name? Which is your favorite?
3. If you could be reborn as a bird, which bird would you choose?
4. Do you believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs?