wo more ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crows, have been released into the wild in Maui, joining five others already reintroduced as part of a conservation effort. According to the Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources), the project, aimed at establishing a sustainable wild population, is led by groups including the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the University of Hawai‘i.
The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project and partners held a ceremony before releasing new ʻalalā into the wild. Kekai Robinson from the Maui County Department of ʻŌiwi Resources led a pule, a traditional Hawaiian blessing, to mark the birds’ reintegration.
The new ʻalalā will spend their initial period in the field aviary used by the original flock, learning survival skills like foraging and perching. The aviary provides a secure environment where the birds can strengthen their flight muscles while being monitored by field staff.
While the birds prepare for their ultimate step into independence, they're supported by feeder stations that provide a reliable source of nutrition, supplementing their natural diet. These stations are a temporary but essential part of the ʻalalā's journey to self-sufficiency, and they're monitored for the health and wellbeing of the birds—complete with scales and motion-triggered cameras.
Dr. Hanna Mounce of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project said sustaining ʻalalā in the wild for more than a year is an important milestone for conservation in Hawaiʻi.
