Officials announced the historic release of five Hawaiian crows, known as ʻalalā, into the leeward slopes of Haleakalā in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve on Maui.
The endemic birds no longer exist in the forests of Hawaii, with the last pair of ʻalalā seen in the wild in South Kona in 2002. Conservationists have been rearing the intelligent birds in captivity, hoping to one day repopulate the skies of Hawaii.
This is the first attempt to release the birds on Maui. Previously, officials released captive-bred ʻalalā into the forests of Hawaii Island, but they didn’t survive — with many of them preyed upon by the Hawaiian hawk, or ʻio.
Building upon lessons from the past releases on Hawaii Island in the 1990s and, more recently, from 2016 to 2019, the conservationists decided to release the birds on Maui, where there aren’t any ʻio. Kīpahulu Forest Reserve was selected for its native vegetation and relative isolation.
The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife worked together over the last two years to coordinate this release.
Three males and two female juveniles were selected for the release, as young birds are less territorial than adults. The five birds were born in captivity and have spent the last 10 months in a social group together. Conservationists hope this close bond will help them survive in the wild.
These particular birds were selected for their highly developed social and behavioral skills, which conservationists hope will help them with foraging, predator avoidance and pair bonding.
New to this release are Global Positioning System transmitters, which will provide a second method to track the birds, along with VHF radio telemetry. The GPS trackers are attached to a durable cloth harness worn by the ʻalalā as a backpack.
Another unique aspect to this release are automated feeder boxes that can provide food on demand, which will supplement the birds’ wild diet.
The five birds, who were transferred from the Maui Bird Conservation Center, spent several weeks in a temporary aviary in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve, learning to use the feeders and getting accustomed to wearing their new backpacks.
On the day of release, staff opened the doors of the aviary and the birds slowly made their way out. First, they walked on the wooden beams of the aviary’s roof, before maneuvering from tree to nearby tree. Eventually, they spread their wings and explored their surroundings.
“As much as we strive at our centers to provide them with the best possible conditions, this is the home they deserve,” said Gavin Nuttall, SDZWA avian recovery specialist. “Opening the door and seeing these birds flying free meant so much.”
The field team will continue to monitor the birds into the foreseeable future, supplementing their food, checking on their health and wellbeing, and making note of how the birds adapt to their new home.
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.