$2.4B needed to help forest birds
WAILUKU » A federal wildlife plan estimates some $2.4 billion would be required to help in the recovery of 21 Hawaii forest birds during a 30-year period.
The Revised Recovery Plan For Hawaii Forest Birds, developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, notes that 10 of the 21 haven't been observed in more than 10 years and may possibly be extinct.
Additionally, the honeycreeper po'ouli or Melamprosops phaeosomo is critically endangered and may have become extinct within the last few years, the plan said.
The Bishop's 'o'o or Moho bishopi, listed as a "species of concern," has not been observed since 1904 and is probably extinct, federal wildlife officials said.
Officials note the 'akikiki or Kauai creeper known scientifically as Oreomystis bairdi has an estimated population of 1,500 and is declining rapidly.
There are forest birds with larger populations, including the Hawaii akepa and Hawaii creeper estimated at between 8,000 to 12,000.
A forest bird recovery plan for Hawaii was first published in 1983, and there have been separate recovery plans subsequently for other species, including the alala or Hawaiian crow and 'io or Hawaiian hawk.
COURTESY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Federal wildlife officials have completed a revised recovery plan for 21 Hawaiian forest birds, including the po'ouli on Maui, shown at top, and the Oahu 'elepaio, above.
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The revised plan is the first that covers the Oahu forest birds 'elepaio and 'alauahio.
A draft plan was released in October 2003, and comments from the public and scientific experts were considered and included in the final plan, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
"This plan represents a tremendous effort by a multitude of federal, state and private partners," said Patrick Leonard, field supervisor for the service's Pacific islands office. "Such a large-scale plan can only be successfully implemented through cooperative conservation."
The plan notes that most of the forest birds live at upper elevations, about 4,000-feet from sea level in Hawaii, Maui and Kauai but that they were once present at lower elevations as evidenced by bones found during archaeological excavations.
Some scientists have speculated that diseases and the western introduction of mosquitos contributed to their decline and the reason why they continue to exist at higher elevations is the lack of the diseases and mosquitos in colder climates.
Other contributing factors include urbanization, the lack of native habitat, and alien animals such as deer, pigs, goats and sheep.
The plan notes that several forest birds occur in such low numbers and restricted ranges that they are threatened by the natural processes, such as inbreeding problems, skewed sex ratios, as well as hurricanes and wildfires.
The recovery plan calls for protection and restoration through predator and weed control.