In a heartening development for biodiversity and indigenous culture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has announced the relocation of five ʻalalā, or Native Hawaiian crows, from Maui Bird Conservation Center to a designated temporary field aviary on Maui. This event is the latest step in a concerted effort to reintroduce the smart and culturally significant birds back into their natural habitat after they became extinct in the wild.
The chosen birds, two females and three males, have spent the last 10 months developing a social group intended to increase their chances of survival once released. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources news release, the ʻalalā are slated to spend three to four weeks in their temporary home amidst the slopes of Haleakalā before being set free in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve, an area chosen for its native vegetation and isolation, which are essential for the birds' survival.
Dr. Hanna Mounce, manager of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, underscored the significance of this pilot project after previous challenges on Hawaiʻi Island. "Even though ʻalalā have been gone from Maui Nui longer than Hawaiʻi Island, we are trying to do an experimental release here to see if we have enough forest for them to survive in and see if maybe this could be a steppingstone to eventually a bigger recovery effort on Hawaiʻi Island," Mounce told the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
To facilitate the monitoring of these birds post-release, each has been fitted with a transmitter. Preceding their relocation, a ceremonial send-off was hosted by local hālau Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Piʻilani, which infused the event with a poignant cultural resonance. "We were letting them know we need them to be around to thrive. So if they thrive, we all thrive," Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau explained to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. His words reflect a deep-seated hope that the reintroduction will not only boost the ʻalalā population but will also strengthen the connection between the local community and their ancestral heritage.
The collaborative effort behind this initiative includes not only the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project but also the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy, showcasing a multi-agency commitment to conservation.
