Released ‘Alalā birds brought back into aviary after three found dead

Posted on December 27, 2016. Tags: alala

(Hilo, HI) – Two young ‘Alalā were moved back into an aviary at the State of Hawai‘i’s Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve last week, as conservationists work to overcome challenges faced by the birds during their reintroduction. A group of five birds were released into the protected reserve on December 14, 2016. Although the birds had been observed doing well and eating from feeders placed in the area, three birds were found dead over the last week. The confirmed cause of the deaths is currently unknown but conservationists hope to gather information about what happened to the birds through necropsy examinations.

John Vetter, a wildlife biologist with the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Forestry and Wildlife said, “Some level of mortality is to be expected when reintroducing a species back into the wild and we were prepared for that possibility. The initial days of release are always the most difficult stage of any release program, and the level of uncertainty is also highest with the first release cohort. We decided to recapture the remaining birds to ensure their safety while we await the results of the necropsies, so that we can learn, respond, and continue to strive for the long-term success of the Alala.”



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Triumphant return? ‘Alala to be released into the wild later this year

Published February 28, 2016 - 1:30am

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald

An ‘alala, which is extinct in the wild, stands on a perch at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center in Volcano.

By TOM CALLIS Hawaii Tribune-Herald

It’s almost time for the ‘alala to once again spread its wings over Hawaii Island’s forests.

Hawaii’s last remaining native crow species, extinct in the wild for about 14 years, will begin to be released from a captive breeding program in September, with a dozen in all to be offered freedom by year’s end to seed what biologists hope will be their comeback.

“The ultimate goal is a self-sustaining wild population of birds,” said John Vetter, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. “We expect that will take a number of years. It depends how successful we are.”

Success is not guaranteed.

The birds, which forage in undergrowth, face a number of threats in the wild, including feral cats, mongooses and rats. The ‘io, or Hawaiian hawk, also is a known predator.

An earlier attempt to release ‘alala in South Kona in the 1990s proved unsuccessful as the birds became susceptible to disease and predation. Of the 27 captive-raised juvenile birds that were released, 21 died and the remaining six were recaptured.

Vetter said the state hopes for better success this time around, with a larger breeding program and plans to release the birds in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve near Volcano.

He said the area is fenced to keep out ungulates, allowing for a more mature undergrowth, which the ‘alala rely.

“We think that will help ‘alala with escape routes for ‘io,” Vetter said. There also might be fewer threats for juveniles from non-native predators.

South Kona was selected previously because there were known wild birds in the area at the time, he said. No wild ‘alala have been seen since 2002.

The captive birds — 114 in all — are raised at the Keahou and Maui bird conservation centers, operated by the San Diego Zoo.

The birds that will be released haven’t yet hatched.

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/triumphant-return-alala-be-released-wild-later-year