Palila making gains
on Mauna Kea slopes

State and federal scientists said they're seeing some success in relocating the endangered palila bird to the dryland forest along the northern slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island.

Scientists have confirmed finding two separate breeding pairs of the native honeycreeper on northern Mauna Kea, including a couple reared in captivity and a relocated wild pair.

The wild pair was confirmed to have produced two healthy nestlings, and the couple raised in captivity had an egg that proved to be infertile in their first breeding attempt, according to U.S. Geological Survey wildlife biologist Paul Banko.

Banko said it's not uncommon for palila pairs to have an infertile egg on the first attempt at reproduction.

State Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said the project represents the first time that captive palila have been reintroduced back into native forests.

"We are extremely excited with this initial success and look forward to an increasing palila population on the north side of Mauna Kea in future years," Department Director Peter Young said yesterday. "The time, money and effort are paying off."

Money for the partial relocation of the palila to north Mauna Kea is coming from a federally funded $15 million comprehensive management program that calls for the realignment of Saddle Road through the U.S. Army's Pohakuloa Training Area and some of the bird's critical habitat.

Banko said $4 million of the $15 million is being spent during a period of 10 years not only to relocate the birds, but also to conduct research to control its predators.

Banko said scientists have been trying to encourage the palila to develop nesting sites on the northern slopes away from the primary breeding location in west Mauna Kea.

He said a separate northern range for the palila would help lessen the chance of a drastic drop in the population, if a catastrophe such as a disease or fire destroys the western habitat.

Scientists estimate there are about 3,000 palila on the Big Island and most are concentrated in 15,000 to 20,000 acres along the western slope of Mauna Kea at the 6,000- to 9,000-foot elevation.

The northern slope designated for palila recovery has about 10,000 acres of Army and state forest land ranging from the 7,000- to 9,000-foot elevation.

Scientists point out the key to recovery for this species is to restore the mamane forest habitats and establish new populations at different sites on the island.

Federal wildlife biologist Paul Banko said most of the palila flew back to the western slope of Mauna Kea.

"It is frustrating," Banko said. "We'd love to have the birds cooperate, but they're just going to do their own thing."