In an historic and collaborative effort to save the Critically Endangered species from extinction, 24 Nihoa Millerbirds were released on Laysan Island.Millerbirds have been absent from Laysan for nearly 100 years. The birds were captured on Nihoa, then transported for 3 days and then released on Laysen Island. All of the radio-tagged birds have been sighted as well as a number of other released birds and they all seem to be doing well.

The Millerbird, is a lively brown song bird that forages for insects among low shrubs and bunch-grasses.  On Laysan, the Millerbird joins other endangered species, such as the Laysan Finch, Laysan Duck, Hawaiian monk seal, and several plant species, as well as millions of nesting seabirds.

At 1,023 acres Laysan is the second largest of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and is located in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, approximately 790 miles northwest of Honolulu.

The Millerbird - Acrocephalus familiaris  is a species of Old World Warbler with two subspecies, A. f. kingi and A f. familiaris. The latter, the Laysan Millerbird, became extinct sometime between 1916 and 1923. The former, the critically endangered Nihoa Millerbird, remains the only race left, inhabiting the small island of Nihoa Hawaii. It is the only Old World warbler to have colonised Hawaii, although there is no fossil evidence that the species ever had a distribution beyond these two islands.

Millerbirds form long-term pair bonds and defend territories over a number of years. Territories can be as large as 0.95 hectares. Breeding occurs variably from January to September depending on food availability.