January 26, 2017
A study published in the January
edition of the journal Animal Behaviour documents significant changes in the
vocalizations that 'alalā make today, when compared with those recorded in the
wild more than a decade ago. The study indicates that although the vocal
repertoire continues to be rich and varied, it has changed significantly over
time. "This is a significant cultural change in the species," said
Patrick Hart, a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of
Hawaii at Hilo. "Of particular note is the fact that there appear to be
fewer alarm and territory calls in the population, and the frequency of alarm
calls is greatly reduced."
The 'alalā, or Hawaiian crow, has
been extinct in the wild since 2002, preserved only at the Keauhou and Maui
Bird Conservation Centers managed by San Diego Zoo Global's Hawaii Endangered
Bird Conservation Program. Scientists hypothesize that the change in
vocalizations represents changes in the kind of behaviors necessary to the
species while maintained in the protected aviaries of the breeding center.
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