Observations on the breeding of the palila Psittirostra bailleui of Hawaii

Author:

Van Riper, Charles III

Title:

Observations on the breeding of the palila Psittirostra bailleui of Hawaii

Periodical:

IBIS

Year:

1980

Volume:

122

Pages:

462-475

Subject:

Palila Psittirostra bailleui Birds breeding Breeding biology Mamane-naio forest

Summary:

The Palila (Psittirostra bailleui) is one of six species of its genus that was first collected in the Kona district of the island of Hawaii by Bailleu in 1876. Once confined to the mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) and mamane-naio (Myoporum sandwicense) forests that are located at the high elevations of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai, the range of this bird has been greatly reduced since the turn of the 19th century. In addition, while habitat degradation has been extensive in Hawaii, little work was done with regard to the effect that habitat alteration has had on endemic organisms. Since the Palila has specialized feeding habits and the mamane forest, on which they are so reliant is rapidly diminishing, the purpose of this study was to determine the basic breeding parameters of the population of the birds that remain on Mauna Kea and to determine why this bird has become so rare.

Label:

Birds - Palila

Date:

1980

Collection:

Periodicals