Palila restoration: developing techniques for palila restoration

Author:

Banko, Paul C., Dougill, Steve, Goltz, Daniel, Gray, Elizabeth, Johnson, Luanne, Kweskin, Matt, Oboyski, Peter, Semones, John D., Wiley, Michael

Title:

Palila restoration: developing techniques for palila restoration

Year:

2006

Volume:

2007

Subject:

Palila Hawaiian honeycreepers Drepanididae Loxioides bailleui Birds Mauna Kea Endangered species birds Birds habitat Hawaii Island Birds ecology Mamane-naio forest

Summary:

The palila (Loxiodes bailleui) is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper that has had the longest history of monitoring of any of Hawaii's forest birds. Annual population estimates have fluctuated greatly with a mean population of 3,390 plus or minus 333 birds and a range of ~1,800-5,600 birds from 1980-1995. The palila is increasingly becoming restricted to the west slope of Mauna Kea, occupying approximately 5% of its historical range. Palila depend on mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forest for the majority of their dietary intake as well as for nesting sites and shelter. The quantity and quality of this dry subalpine mamane woodland has declined over many decades due to the grazing pressure of introduced herbivores but is beginning to recover in many areas where ungulate numbers have been reduced. However, despite improving habitat conditions, the palila has not increased in numbers. Restoration techniques are being developed through population monitoring, habitat management research, translocation, and breeding enhancement. To evaluate potential translocation sites the phenology of mamane trees were monitored since 1996, expanding an earlier study initiated in 1988 on the west slope of Mauna Kea. In addition, forest composition, structure, and recruitment was determined for six study sites in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and two sites in the Pohakuloa Training Area using the point-centered quarter method. With figures of pod availability during breeding seasons and feral cat capture rates on Mauna Kea.

Date:

Dec. 2006

Collection:

Monographs