We meander through the woods, the whine of mosquitoes in our ears. Mendes plays owl calls—they sound like the squeaks of a mangled dog toy—from a handheld speaker in an attempt to solicit a response.

And when this atoll was swallowed up by the waves, that bird went extinct. ... Or did it? Did the flightless Aldabra rail evolve twice? Would you like an Aldabra rail pin? Subscribe to the pin club ...