Endangered Mauna Kea bird

Author:

Whitten, Harry

Title:

Endangered Mauna Kea bird

Periodical:

Elepaio

Year:

1974

Volume:

35

Pages:

48-51

Subject:

Palila Loxioides bailleui Endangered species birds Mauna Kea Forest Reserve Mamane-naio forest Fences Mauna Kea Mammalian Predation Feral ungulates

Summary:

The Palila is one of 27 Hawaiian birds that are on the U.S. List of Endangered Species and is a native Hawaiian honeycreeper whose entire world's range is restricted to the native mamane-naio forest on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. While this bird has been known to eat insects and seeds from other trees, it is largely dependent on the mamane forest for its habitat and food supply. In July 1974, threats to the palila population were discussed at a meeting of the Animal Species Advisory Commission where feral cats and sheep were respectively felt to be the main threats to these birds and the mamane forest. In addition, it was agreed that the 9300 foot elevation of the mountain, (Unit A), was the area of most critical concern where sheep cause the most damage to the mamane, a legume that the sheep find tasty. Since sheep gather in herds, the Fish and Game Division felt that one control measure might be to allow hunting one time a month, (as opposed to allowing hunting according to a season), in the hope that this would make the sheep scatter and lessen the damaging effect that the sheep have on the forest as occurs when sheep forage through the forest in herds outside of established hunting seasons. However, that resolution was tabled until a field trip could be done in an effort to inspect the mamane forest. At that point, the feral sheep population was estimated to be approximately 1200 and while the Fish and Game Division had planned to open the area to hunting when the population reached 1500, it was felt that would be too large a population of sheep. As a result, a suggestion was made for federal funds to be obtained under the Endangered Species Act for the purpose of fencing off a section of Unit A in an effort to protect the palila habitat. The Animal Species Advisory Commission then adopted a resolution asking the Fish and Game Division to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a proposal for a State-Federal agreement to protect the palila, with a request for federal funding under the Endangered Species Act.

Label:

Birds - Palila

Date:

1974

Collection:

Periodicals