Summer bird census on Mauna Kea

Author:

Schnell, Lena

Title:

Summer bird census on Mauna Kea

Periodical:

Elepaio

Year:

1998

Volume:

58

Pages:

50

Subject:

Mauna Kea Forest Reserve Palila Akiapolaau Bird counting

Summary:

Kathleen Sherry and Lena Schnell, staff members of the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) Environmental Office, assisted biologists from the USGS-BRD with a three-day bird census counting that was done on Mauna Kea. While all bird species were counted, the census focused on the endangered Palila (Loxoides bailleui) -- a bird that is known to live only on the western slopes of Mauna Kea. During the preparation and calibration period, the field crew was witness to a rare event -- the sighting of another endangered bird that is rarely seen on the western slope of Mauna Kea called the Akiapolaau (Hemignathus munroi). While the bird census counts are generally conducted during the winter months, just after the breeding season, more stations were added to this count. A summer count was also conducted since the estimates for the Palila were expected to be low. Although none of the endangered birds were detected within the PTA, Palila were heard along the Pohakuloa Gulch that is located approximately 2 kilometers above the PTA.

Label:

Birds - General

Date:

1998

Collection:

Periodicals