Saving Hawaii's critically endangered puaiohi

Forest and Bird, Issue 280, 1 May 1996, Page 10

Saving Hawaii's critically endangered puaiohi

Michael Walther

LAST YEAR scientists with the United States Biological Service began a two-year study of the rare puaiohi (Myadestes palmeri) in the rain-drenched Alakai Wilderness Preserve on Kaua’i — the most western of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. For many years the puaiohi was believed extinct, and the bird was only rediscovered in

1960. But a population estimated to be 175 in 1975 has now dropped to less than 50. Found nowhere else on earth, the surviving birds cling to a precarious existence among the towering cliffs, hidden valleys and high windswept cloud forests of the island’s rugged interior. A member of the thrush family, the puaiohi is one of 15 Hawaiian forest birds — six of which are found on Kaua’i- with populations of less than 100. When Cook arrived in Hawaii 215 years ago, there were 79 forest bird species and subspecies inhabiting the islands. Since then, 31 have become extinct, 25 are endangered, and the remainder all have reduced populations. Hawaii now contains the greatest concentration of rare birds on the planet, including over 40 percent of the United States endangered bird list. Many factors have caused this horrible loss of biodiversity. In a scenario familiar to New Zealanders, bird populations have been depleted by the combined effects of avian disease, loss of habitat, competition from introduced birds, predation by cats, rats and mongoose, food shortages, museum collecting and damage to the fragile rainforest understorey by feral pigs. The puaiohi research team plans to conduct studies of the bird’s foraging, nesting and

social behaviour and to develop procedures for collecting eggs and chicks for captive propagation. A US$1-million forest bird breeding centre is currently under construction where scientists have begun developing techniques to hand raise puaiohi using a common surrogate species, the ’oma’o. Efforts to protect the remaining birds include reducing feral pig populations, rat poisoning, disease research and restrictions on public access to the Alakai Preserve. Hopefully, biologists will be successful in preventing the extinction of any more beautiful Hawaiian forest birds. Far too many have been lost already.