Five Hawaiian Crows Are Thriving in the Wild on Maui Nearly Two Years After Release, With Nests Built in Two Straight Seasons, Hawai'i DLNR Says
Kīpahulu, Maui, Hawai'i — Nearly two years after their release into the forests of Haleakalā, five ʻalalā (Hawaiian crows) continue to survive in the wild and are demonstrating encouraging natural behaviors, the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said in an October 20 release.
Flying freely, the birds are foraging regularly and showing healthy pair-bonding, territoriality and active nest-building behaviors, as well as weathering powerful seasonal storms. Monitored closely by the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project field team, in collaboration with the ʻAlalā Project partnership, one dominant pair has constructed nests through two consecutive nesting seasons, with the female regularly sitting and the male guarding her. Although nesting has not yet resulted in chicks, DLNR said the repeated attempts are encouraging as staff continue to evaluate the potential for successful reproduction in the wild.
"Having all five birds in the wild and healthy, nearly two years after release, is a significant accomplishment," said Hanna Mounce, program manager of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. The ʻalalā is endemic to Hawai'i and was once extinct in the wild; the released birds come from captive-bred populations.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 夏威夷乌鸦（ʻalalā）。图：U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service，Wikimedia Commons，Public domain。 / A Hawaiian crow (ʻalalā). Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
