Palila recovery lags behind habitat restoration efforts

Author:

Tummons, Patricia

Title:

Palila recovery lags behind habitat restoration efforts

Periodical:

Environment Hawaii

Year:

1998

Volume:

9

Pages:

1+

Subject:

Palila Loxioides bailleui Birds habitat Endangered species recovery Captive breeding

Summary:

The Palila (Loxiodes bailleui), is a member of the first group of birds that were placed on the federal list of endangered species soon after the Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress. This was partly due to their habitat being destroyed by feral ungulates that grazed on the mamane tree forest in the upper elevation area of Mauna Kea. As a result, the Palila was the plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit that force the state, (against its will), to protect the Palia habitat by removing ungulates such as goats and Mouflon sheep. While the habitat was recovering well, the bird population was recovering at a much lower rate. Therefore, several experiments were done in an effort to expand the Palila population. Birds were translocated from the western slope of Mauna Kea to the eastern side of the mountain on several occasions using birds that varied in ages but to no avail. Problems with batteries and long antennas in tracking devices, predators, and the Palila's site-faithful roosting behavior made it difficult to establish a new population of birds on the eastern side of the mountain. As a result, it was hoped that a captive breeding program, at the Big Island captive breeding facility in Keauhou, might help form a core of a second wild population in the hope that this group of birds would not be as site faithful as was the wild group. However, concerns that the captive-reared birds might have been infected with a type of mycoplasma bacteria, caused a delay in the plans to release the birds. In addition, other impediments to recovery such as a possible lack of breeding activity at the Keauhou facility in addition to an El Nino year in 1998, changes in the birds diet, and parasitism might have been reasons for their failure to thrive.

Label:

Birds - Palila

Date:

1998

Collection:

Periodicals