The Hawaiian Islands are home to species of birds that are found nowhere else on the planet,
exhibiting a staggering array of adaptations to life in their unique habitats.
Prior to human disturbance, Hawaiian birdlife was abundant from the montane cloud
forests to the dry forests by the sea in what are thought to have been the highest densities
of any birds on earth. These natural treasures are integral elements of the biological and
cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands and their people. Unfortunately, many Hawaiian
bird species are highly endangered or already extinct. Of the more than 140 native breeding
species and subspecies present prior to the colonization of the islands by humans, more than
half have been lost to extinction. Among the remaining 71 endemic forms, 30 are federally listed
as endangered, and fifteen of these are literally on the brink of extinction, numbering fewer than
500 individuals. The causes of these declines are numerous and extensive, including loss and
degradation of habitat, and introduced diseases, predators, and competitors. The task of
preventing further declines and recovering imperiled species will require wide-ranging efforts
to address and mitigate the diversity of threats faced by species in natural populations.
The Division collaborates broadly with government and private researchers,
managers, and landowners to implement programs designed to protect and recover
Hawaii's unique forest bird species and their habitats. Planning and implementation
of this work are multifaceted and complex. The task is further complicated by the
fact that 30 bird species or subspecies, each with unique biological attributes and
needs, are currently endangered and in need of conservation action. Our integrated
approach emphasizes basic research to understand the biology of particular species,
mitigation and control of threats and limiting factors, restoration and protection of
suitable managed habitat, education and outreach, and captive propagation and
reintroduction programs. Balancing expenditures among single-species and multi-species
approaches, research and management, and habitat protection and restoration remains a
long-standing challenge for managers in light of the severe shortage of funding available
for the tasks. We emphasize multi-species management approaches while providing support
to select single species and research projects. Overall guidance for this work is
provided by interagency and landowner working groups, and the Hawaii Forest Bird Recovery Team.
