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Palila and American Bird Conservancy
Working to save the birds of Hawaii
© Caleb Slemmons
High on the north face of Mauna Kea, a volcanic mountain on Hawaii's Big Island, work is under way to save one of the island's most endangered birds, the Palila. Most Palila live on the west face of Mauna Kea. Palila bred in captivity were released on the north face, to join Palila moved there from the west side. The new site offers a second, distinct nesting population. Meanwhile efforts are under way to fence out feral sheep that degrade habitat in the Palila's primary home. The Endangered Species Coalition and American Bird Conservancy are working to save the Palila.
BirdNote®
Palila and American Bird Conservancy
Written by Bob Sundstrom
This is BirdNote, and today is Endangered Species Day.
[Palila singing, background includes other Hawaiian bird songs]
High on the north face of Mauna Kea, a volcanic mountain on Hawaii’s Big Island, work is under way to save one of the island’s most endangered birds, the Palila. The Palila is a large finch with a bold yellow head and breast. It lives only on this one mountain.
[Palila song]
Most Palila live on the west face of Mauna Kea. Some were moved to the north side, along with Palila that had been bred in captivity, forming a new, distinct nesting population. Meanwhile fences are being built to keep out feral sheep that have been degrading habitat in the Palila’s primary home.
[Palila song]
Dr. Chris Farmer, a biologist who monitors Palila for American Bird Conservancy, says that the results have been encouraging, but the situation is still urgent. Only about 2,000 birds remain, he says. But there’s a chance of saving the Palila if we’re proactive.
[Palila song]
To learn more about efforts to save the Palila, and other endangered birds, you’ll find links to American Bird Conservancy and to the Endangered Species Coalition, on our website, birdnote.org.
I’m Mary McCann.
###
Song of the Palila provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Palila [129178] recorded by G.F. Budney
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Chris Peterson
© 2011 Tune In to Nature.org March 2011 Narrator: Mary McCann
ID# SotB-Hawaii-03-2011-03-08 SotB-Hawaii-03b
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