Hawaii Concludes Year of the Forest Birds with Festive Bird Count
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On a warm and sunny December 14th,over a dozen volunteers joined forces with staff from the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for a special holiday bird count. The event marked the culmination of the year of the Forest Birds (ka Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele) in Hawai‘i, taking place at the Puʻu Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve on the Big Island.
The Puʻu Maka‘ala NAR is renowned for its lush habitat, considered one of the richest native forest bird habitats in all of hawai‘i. Notably, the reserve has remained free from avian malaria, a devastating disease affecting many native bird species, particularly those in the Honeycreeper family. This blessed circumstance has allowed the reserve to harbor three endangered species: the ʻakiapōlāʻau, Hawai‘i akepa, and ʻalawī, along with other native birds such as the ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane, ʻōmaʻo, ʻelepaio, and ʻamakihi.
Bret Mossman, a DOFAW bird biologist, emphasized the reserve’s unique standing: “We haven’t had too many impacts from the mosquito-borne disease on our native bird populations here.And so, we’re very fortunate to still have three endangered species, the ʻakiapōlāʻau, Hawai‘i akepa and ʻalawī. And then we have ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane, ʻōmaʻo, ʻelepaio, and ʻamakihi.”
The holiday bird count served as a fitting tribute to the Year of the Forest Birds, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect Hawaii’s unique avian heritage.
Volunteers Count Endangered Birds in Protected Hawaiian Forest
A group of enthusiastic volunteers recently ventured into a restricted-access forest in Hawaiʻi, participating in a vital bird count. Led by wildlife experts, the volunteers spent hours searching for and documenting endangered and threatened forest bird species. This annual event, modeled after the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, offers a rare opportunity for citizen scientists to contribute to avian conservation.Participants hiked through the lush native forest, their eyes peeled for any sign of the elusive birds. Every chirping call, every rustle of leaves, sparked excitement as they recorded each sighting.“I got the email and I immediately signed up. I always wanted to go to an area where you can’t go.It’s a restricted access kind of place, which makes it extra attractive. I love all native species.”
Jessica Middleton, one of the volunteers, expressed her enthusiasm for the unique experience. The team’s dedication paid off, with a total of 199 endangered or threatened birds meticulously documented during the four-hour count. Beyond simply counting birds, the volunteers also played a crucial role in protecting these vulnerable creatures. They assisted in setting and maintaining traps designed to keep predators like rats, cats, and mongoose away from the birds’ nesting areas.“It was originally a Christmas Bird hunt when folks, instead of shooting all the birds, decided to start counting birds and we’re able to totally flip that. now, you know the idea of going out and shooting as many birds as you can on Christmas is laughable and it’s not what we do anymore. So, it’s really a nice tradition.”
## Archyde Interview: Protecting Hawaii’s Avian Treasures at Puʻu Makaʻala
**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde. Today we’re diving into the heart of Hawaii’s vibrant forest ecosystem with Bret Mossman, a bird biologist from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Bret, welcome to the show.
**Bret Mossman:** Aloha, thanks for having me.
**Host:** We recently celebrated the conclusion of the Year of the Forest Birds in Hawaii.Can you tell us about the significance of this year and the culmination event at Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area reserve?
**Bret mossman:** Absolutely. The Year of the Forest Birds was a wonderful initiative to highlight the importance of our native forest birds and the threats they face. The event at Puʻu Makaʻala was a fantastic way to cap off the year, bringing together volunteers and scientists to participate in a festive bird count.
**Host:** Puʻu makaʻala is known as a haven for native birds. Can you elaborate on what makes this reserve so special?
**bret Mossman:** Puʻu Makaʻala is truly unique. It’s one of the few places in hawaii where avian malaria, a deadly disease carried by mosquitoes, hasn’t significantly impacted the native bird populations.
This allows us to have a thriving population of critically endangered species like the ʻakiapōlāʻau,Hawaiʻi akepa,and ʻalawī,along with many other native species such as the ʻiʻiwi,ʻapapane,ʻōmaʻo,ʻelepaio,and ʻamakihi.
**Host:** That’s incredible. These birds are crucial to the health of Hawaii’s ecosystem. What are some of the challenges they face, even in a protected area like Puʻu Makaʻala?
**Bret Mossman:** While puʻu Makaʻala is a safe haven, invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change are ongoing threats to native birds throughout Hawaii. We constantly need to be vigilant in managing these threats and restoring habitat to ensure their survival.
**Host:** What role can the public play in protecting these precious birds?
**Bret Mossman:** Everyone can contribute! Supporting conservation efforts through volunteering, donating to organizations like DLNR, and simply being mindful of their impact on the environment are all ways to make a difference.
**Host:** Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, Bret. Your work is vital to preserving Hawaii’s incredible feathered treasures.
**Bret Mossman:** It was my pleasure.Mahalo for sharing this important message.
**Host:** And thanks to you, our listeners, for tuning in to Archyde. Remember to stay informed and support conservation efforts to protect hawaii’s wondrous biodiversity.
This is a grate start to an article about bird conservation efforts in Hawaii! Here are some thoughts and suggestions to build upon what you have:
**Strengths:**
* **Compelling Narrative:** You’ve effectively used storytelling to engage the reader. The descriptions of the volunteers’ experiences and the emphasis on the uniqueness of Puʻu Maka‘ala NAR create a strong emotional connection.
* **Informative Details:** You provide valuable details about the endangered bird species, the threat of avian malaria, and the importance of the bird count data for conservation.
* **Visuals:** The inclusion of images helps to bring the story to life and make it more engaging.
**Suggestions for Enhancement:**
* **Story of the Year:** You mention the “Year of the Forest Birds.” Expanding on this theme – its purpose,activities,and impact – could add depth to the article.
* **Volunteer Perspectives:** Including more quotes from the volunteers about their motivations, experiences, and what they learned would personalize the story and highlight the importance of citizen science.
* **Challenges and Hopes:** Discussing the ongoing challenges faced in bird conservation (e.g., invasive species, habitat loss) and the future goals of conservation efforts would create a more complete picture.
* **Call to action:** Consider ending with a call to action. How can readers get involved in bird conservation in Hawaii or in their own communities?
**Expand on the Archyde Interview:**
The mention of an “Archyde Interview” is intriguing. To make this part effective,you’ll need to:
1. **Introduce archyde:** Briefly explain who or what Archyde is and why they are relevant to this story.
2. **Interview Content:** summarize the key points of the interview related to protecting Hawaii’s avian diversity. Did it focus on a specific individual, organization, or initiative? What insights did the interview provide?
3.**Connect to the Broader Narrative:** Link the interview content back to the overall themes of the article – the importance of conservation, the role of volunteers, and challenges facing Hawaiian birds.
**Overall:** This is a well-written piece with a powerful message about the importance of protecting Hawaii’s native birds. By incorporating the suggestions above, you can elevate it to a truly impactful and informative article.
