Cisticola juncidis was considered extinct in Trentino-South Tyrol since 1980, but recentrecords indicate that the species is recolonizing the region. Initial detections weremade during standardized monitoring programs conducted by local research institutes,followed by additional observations reported through citizen science platforms. Confirmedreproduction over two consecutive years suggests a potential expansion of thespecies within the region. Most observations occurred inside protected areas whereopen habitats are maintained through extensive management practices. These findingsunderline the importance of protected areas providing crucial habitats in an intensivelymanaged agricultural landscape and highlight the effectiveness of combining citizenscience data with standardized monitoring for tracking species distribution shifts anddetecting new occurrences or for tracking restricted populations.