Breeding biology and territoriality of the Hawaii Creeper

Author:

VanderWerf, Eric A.

Title:

Breeding biology and territoriality of the Hawaii Creeper

Periodical:

Condor

Year:

1998

Volume:

100

Pages:

541-545

Subject:

Hawaii Creeper Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Territoriality (zoology) Breeding biology

Summary:

The Hawaii Creeper (Oreomystis mana) is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, (Drepanidinae), that is endemic to the island of Hawaii and is restricted to the high-elevation forests of this island. This bird species is insectivorous and forage primarily on the trunks and large branches of the Koa, (Acacia koa), and Ohia, (Metrosideros polymorpha), trees. While the total population of the Hawaii Creeper was estimated to be 12,500 in four disjunct areas of wet or mesic forests that were located above the 1,400 meter elevation of the island in the 1990s, it was felt that the decline of this creeper was possibly linked to habitat loss and alteration, nest predation by introduced rodents, nest site limitations, as well as introduced diseases, such as avian malaria, (Plasmodium relictum), and the avian pox virus, (Avipox sp). As a result, this study was done at the 1,850 - 1,900 meter elevation in the Pua Akala tract of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge that is located on the east slope of Mauna Kea. Here, eight Hawaii Creeper nests were monitored and the movements of color-banded individuals were followed in 1991 and again from 1994 - 1997 in an effort to determine their breeding system and their degree of territoriality as little was known regarding these aspects of this relatively long-lived bird species.

Label:

Birds - General

URL:

https://sora.unm.edu/node/105419

Date:

1998

Collection:

Periodicals